On World Asthma Day, Asthma Canada is urging greater awareness about the dangers of uncontrolled asthma — a condition that continues to take a devastating toll across the country.
Every year, more than 300 families in Canada lose a loved one to asthma. For Kimberly Couvillon, that statistic became heartbreakingly real when her 14-year-old daughter, Amber Marie McCollum of Windsor, Ontario, died after a severe asthma attack in June 2024.
“Amber was full of life, energy, and love. She had dreams, and she had a future. But one asthma attack took everything away,” Kimberly shared. “No parent should ever have to go through what we did. People need to take asthma seriously. If more people understood the warning signs of uncontrolled asthma, lives could be saved.”
Today, more than 4.6 million Canadians live with asthma — and yet, startling new data from Asthma Canada’s 2025 National Asthma Survey reveals that only half feel their condition is well managed.
What the Survey Shows
Asthma Canada surveyed over 1,400 people living with or caring for someone with asthma. The findings offer a sobering look at the day-to-day challenges Canadians face:
- The cost of asthma care is a significant barrier in parts of Canada: Nearly half of respondents (46%) said they have occasionally skipped or neglected their asthma management due to the high cost of medications or devices.
- Asthma takes a toll on mental health: 92% reported stress related to their asthma, 64% felt isolated, stigmatized, or lonely because of the condition, and one in two said they felt embarrassed using their inhaler in public.
- Uncontrolled asthma is widespread and taking a serious toll on daily life: 81% of respondents said their asthma has affected their ability to perform at work, school, or home. Nearly nine in 10 (89%) experienced shortness of breath, 78% reported disrupted sleep, and 46% missed work or school due to asthma-related issues.
- People with uncontrolled asthma are at risk: 72% of respondents reported using their reliever inhaler two or more times per week — a clear warning sign of uncontrolled asthma, based on international Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines. Overreliance on a reliever inhaler increases the risk of severe asthma attacks and long-term health complications. Alarmingly, one in five (23%) said they used their reliever inhaler three or more times per day.
A.C.T. on Asthma: A National Call to Action
In response, Asthma Canada is launching its A.C.T. on Asthma campaign — a simple, three-step call to action to help people take control of their asthma and protect their health:
A – Assess your asthma with our online Asthma Self-Check.
C – Claim your free Asthma Control Pack.
T – Talk to your doctor about improving your asthma management.
“No one should lose their life to a preventable asthma attack,” says Jeffrey Beach, President & CEO of Asthma Canada. “We created A.C.T. on Asthma to help people recognize when their asthma is not under control and give them the tools to change that.”
For asthma patient advocate Josh Rheaume, this message hits close to home.
“Learning how to control my asthma completely changed my life,” said Josh, originally from Nova Scotia. “For years, I didn’t even realize how much I was missing—saying no to sports and always feeling one step behind. Once I finally understood what proper asthma management looked like, everything changed. I had more energy, more confidence, and a new sense of freedom. I want everyone with asthma to know: asthma shouldn’t define you, you define asthma.”
Standing Up for Every Family
Amber’s story is a powerful reminder of what’s at stake. Asthma Canada is committed to ensuring no family has to experience a preventable loss to this chronic disease. By raising awareness, improving education, and advocating for better care, we can help people live symptom-free and save lives.
This World Asthma Day, take a moment to reflect, learn more, and share the message: asthma is serious — and manageable. Let’s take action together.
