Monat: März 2025

World Health Day is celebrated annually on April 7th to recognise the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) founding in 1948. The day aims to raise awareness about global health issues and efforts to address them. In 2019, 262 million people worldwide had asthma, with 9.1% of those being children (aged 6-7)1, experiencing this chronic condition early in life.

What is World Health Day?

World Health Day educates people worldwide about critical health issues and promotes policies and initiatives that improve health access and quality. This is a global collaboration between governments, healthcare organisations and communities to work toward better health for all.

Each year, WHO selects a theme that reflects current and global health concerns. The theme for 2025 is “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures.” This year, the theme focuses on pregnancy and early-life health interventions, highlighting the importance of providing healthcare, education, and resources from infancy to ensure healthier futures.

World Health Day 2025 Theme: „Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures“

Whilst the theme focuses on pregnancy and early life, this blog will look at the importance of an early asthma diagnosis in children, ensuring they grow up with fewer health complications.

What is asthma?²

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes inflammation in the airways, making breathing difficult. It can affect people of all ages and often begins in childhood. There is no cure, but simple treatments are available that can help keep the symptoms under control. Asthma does not have to impact a person’s life significantly.

Asthma is a combination of variable symptoms that may differ over weeks and months. The common
symptoms are:

• Wheezing
• Breathlessness
• Chest Tightness
• Coughing

Impact of asthma on children³

Asthma can significantly impact a child’s life. Symptoms can affect various aspects of life, including reduced physical activity, missed school days, anxiety, and stress.

Every child is different, and triggers vary. Symptoms can sometimes happen hours after coming into contact with an asthma trigger, making it difficult to work out what has caused the symptoms. Once a trigger has been identified, it’s best to avoid them if possible.

The importance of an early diagnosis and monitoring

Diagnosing asthma early is essential; many children remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, which leads to uncontrolled asthma and worsening symptoms over time. In the UK, asthma is one of the top three causes of emergency admissions to hospitals, with 75% of these admissions being avoidable through the implementation of simple interventions such as regular asthma reviews, correct inhaler technique and having a written asthma action plan⁴.

Asthma diagnosis in children

Traditional asthma tests such as spirometry may not always be practical in young children because they often lack the cognitive ability to understand and perform the breathing manoeuvres needed for an accurate test. Due to its non-invasive nature, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) testing is a great option for children to assist in an asthma diagnosis.

What is FeNO testing?

FeNO testing in children

The British Thoracic Society (BTS), the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) released a joint asthma guideline in November 2024, recommending FeNO testing as the first-line test for asthma diagnosis in children. The new NICE/BTS/SIGN guidelines state that children and young people (aged 5-16) with symptoms suggestive of asthma can have a positive asthma diagnosis if FeNO levels are 35 ppb or higher⁵. Catching inflammation early can prevent severe asthma attacks, leading to better long-term health. For more information on the updated asthma guidelines, read our article here.

Conclusion

Asthma can affect a child’s physical health, education, and emotional well-being, but with an early diagnosis and correct management, children can lead healthy, active lives. On World Health Day 2025, let’s prioritise early asthma diagnosis and support children in having Healthy beginnings for hopeful futures.

For more information on the NObreath® and FeNO testing, visit the NObreath® website.

References

1. The Global Asthma Report 2022 [cited 26/2/25] Available from https://globalasthmareport.org/burden/burden.php
2. World Health Organization. Asthma [Internet]. World Health Organization. 2024. [cited 26/2/25] Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/asthma
3. Mayo Clinic Staff. Childhood asthma – Symptoms and causes [Internet]. Mayo Clinic. 2023. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-20351507
4. Children and young people’s asthma fact sheet [cited 26/2/25] Available from https://www.transformationpartners.nhs.uk/children-and-young-peoples-asthma-fact-sheet/#:~:text=1%20in%2011%20children%20and,symptoms%20in%20the%20previous%20week.
5. Asthma: diagnosis, monitoring and chronic asthma management (BTS, NICE, SIGN) [cited 26/2/25] Available from https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng245/chapter/Recommendations

Local med-tech company Bedfont® Scientific is proud to announce its ranking in the prestigious MegaGrowth 50 awards.

Celebrated annually, the MegaGrowth 50 awards recognise the 50 fastest-growing privately owned businesses in Kent and Medway. Bedfont® Scientific, world leaders in breath analysis with over 48 years of experience designing and manufacturing medical breath analysis devices, was thrilled to feature in the top 50 for 2025.

The awards, organised by Kreston Reeves, Brachers, and the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce are based on the average turnover growth of companies with a minimum turnover of £1 million, as reported in full accounts registered at Companies House over the past four years. Bedfont® has shown steady growth, with high expectations for the current financial year.

The rankings were unveiled during an awards breakfast at the Tudor Park Marriott Hotel, Maidstone, where local businesses celebrated companies making a significant impact on the local and national economies. The rankings were announced in reverse order, and Bedfont® proudly placed 28 in the list.

Jason Smith, CEO at Bedfont® Scientific, said, “Being named among Kent’s fastest-growing businesses is an incredible honour and a testament to the hard work, passion, and dedication of our entire team. Ranking 28 in the MegaGrowth 50 awards is a huge achievement that reflects our commitment to excellence and innovation. I’m immensely proud of what we’ve accomplished and excited about the opportunities ahead. I’d also like to extend my congratulations to all the other businesses who made the list, your success stories inspire us all and highlight the strength and resilience of Kent’s business community.”

Following this recognition, Bedfont® plans to grow and continue its global impact by providing cutting-edge breath analysis medical products to the highest standards through technical innovation and professional business practice.

For more information on Bedfont® visit www.bedfont.com or follow @BedfontLtd on social media.

World leaders in breath analysis are named finalists for the SEHTA innovation
category.

Bedfont® Scientific Limited are thrilled to have been selected as a finalist in the Innovation category
at the South East Health Technologies Alliance (SEHTA) Awards 2025. The SEHTA Awards celebrate
excellence in health technology innovation and acknowledge the outstanding collaborations among
industry, academia, and the NHS across the South East of England.

This recognition highlights Bedfont’s commitment to advancing innovation in breath analysis. With
over 48 years of knowledge and expertise in designing and manufacturing breath analysis devices,
Bedfont® has continued to improve its devices to keep up with technology and market trends, and
evolve and improve its internal company processes.

“We are incredibly honoured to be recognised as finalists in the SEHTA Awards 2025. This acknowledgement reinforces our dedication to pushing the boundaries of innovation and delivering transformative solutions in breath analysis,” said Jason Smith, CEO at Bedfont®. “We look forward to the awards ceremony and celebrating innovation alongside other industry leaders.”

The winners will be announced at the SEHTA Awards Ceremony, which will be held on Thursday, April
10th, at the London Institute for Healthcare Engineering. The evening will unite businesses to
showcase healthcare innovation and collaboration excellence contributions.

For more information on Bedfont® and how it revolutionises healthcare through breath analysis, visit
www.bedfont.com or follow @BedfontLtd on social media.

Bedfont® promotes movement in the workplace as part of a commitment to employee wellbeing.

Bedfont® Scientific Limited, an award-winning med-tech company in Harrietsham, Kent, was excited
to participate in the Joe Wicks Movement Hour on Wednesday 5th March. The Joe Wicks Movement
Hour aimed to promote physical activity and wellbeing within the workplace. The event encouraged
employers across the UK to allocate an hour during the working day for employees to engage in
physical activities.

Bedfont® is passionate about employee wellbeing and focuses heavily on a healthy work/life balance.
The Joe Wicks Movement Hour provided an extra opportunity to get staff moving and away from
their desks for a break.

Whether working remotely or in the office, staff were encouraged to use the hour to do a physical
activity of their choice. The suggested activities were taking a walk, going on a bike ride, taking the
children to the park, or joining the garden committee in the Bedfont® Wellbeing Garden to help tidy
up and prepare the space for Spring.

“We believe that a healthy workforce is a happy and productive workforce,” said Jason Smith, CEO at
Bedfont®. “Taking part in Joe Wicks’ Movement Hour is a fantastic way to reinforce our commitment
to employee wellbeing and encourage staff to be more active throughout the day.”

Last week, Jemma Carter, Communications and Content Coordinator at Bedfont® was invited to
speak on BBC Radio Kent to share insights on how Bedfont® is embracing the movement and the
positive impact it is expected to have on employees. The conversation highlighted the importance of
movement in the workplace and how small changes can improve overall health and morale.

With the success of the Joe Wicks Movement Hour, Bedfont® continues to prioritise health and
wellbeing in the workplace and plans to encourage staff to incorporate more movement into their
daily routine.

For more information on Bedfont® and its wellbeing initiatives, follow @BedfontLtd on social media
or visit www.bedfont.com.