Written By: Shraddha Rupavate | Updated : May 6, 2014 12:12 PM IST
May 6 is the World Asthma Day 2014
Many people living with asthma find the condition limiting and a barrier to success. But asthma should not stop you from achieving what you really want to and what you're capable of. Here are top 7 celebrities who have fought the condition and inspired millions to pursue their passion despite being diagnosed with asthma.
Amitabh Bachchan: Age has never been a barrier for Big B. He defeats all the challenges on his way to catch hold of victory every single time, and asthma is one of them. 'I am asthmatic so an asthalin pump is a regular in my pocket at all times,' he once wrote in his blog describing his struggle to maintain good health, where he also thanked his fans for all the love and prayers.
Jerome Bettis: All sports require a lot of stamina and fitness and asthma surely is a condition that doesn't mix well sports as physical activity or exercise itself can be a trigger of asthma attacks. But nothing seemed to stop this former American footballer. NFL star Bettis was diagnosed with asthma when he was 14 but he fought his breath and took his high-school football passion to another level, making it quite obvious that people with asthma can not only participate in sports activities but can also become professional champions to compete at the highest possible level. He also hosted a camp for spread awareness about asthma along with The American Respiratory Alliance of Western Pennsylvania, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Paul Scholes: Despite struggling with shortness of breath and wheezing throughout his career, this Manchester United midfielder stood out as the best football player England could ever have. There were worries that he wouldn't make it as a footballer due to his condition but that never stopped this Class of '92 graduate. He opens up about his asthma problem in his autobiography 'Scholes: My Story.'
David Beckham: Get this, the world's most well-known footballer had asthma!This football player like his Class of '92 team mate suffered from the condition but kept the condition hidden from his fans for a pretty long time, until the day he was spotted using an asthma inhaler. But after he admitted to suffering from the problem, it all the more inspired his fans to Bend it like Beckham. And the disease didn't really stop the duo from playing the part in the most successful club side in English football for the better part of a decade.
Amy Van Dyken: This Olympic gold medallist swimming champion set up a perfect example with her never giving up attitude. She was diagnosed with asthma as a child but she had made up her mind at the age of 5. 'I was allergic to everything and still am -- I was really a weakling. I started swimming only on doctor's recommendation,' she spoke in an interview with HealthDay.
Pink: Singing requires a lot of control over breathing and a strong lung capacity. Despite being diagnosed with asthma as a child, this American singer, songwriter and model never thought of anything else other than music, making her the number one pop star of her generation.
Jessica Alba: Hollywood comedy actress Jessica Alba had suffered a severe episode of asthma attack in her childhood that almost caused lungs to collapse. 'I spent a lot of time in the hospital when I was a kid,' she mentioned in an exclusive interview published in the Catalina magazine.
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