Asthma is a chronic disease which causes inflammation to the airways as a result of particular triggers. The lining of the airway becomes swollen, resulting in breathing difficulties and other asthma symptoms such as coughing and wheezing.
World Asthma Day aims to raise awareness about asthma and asthma treatment around the globe. This annual event brings people together to address the gaps in the asthma care available to asthma sufferers around the world.
Raising asthma awareness benefits not only asthma sufferers themselves, but also caregivers and healthcare providers by increasing asthma knowledge, education and accessibility to asthma prevention supplies.
World Asthma Day 2023
The 2023 World Asthma Day is being held on 2nd May 2023.
The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) is a collaborative organisation of the World Health Organisation. GINA coordinates World Asthma Day in May every year since it began with the first World Asthma Meeting in 1998.
GINA has chosen the year’s theme of ‘Asthma Care for All’. Many of the people that suffer from a lack of treatment for severe asthma are in low or middle socioeconomic groups or countries, and this year’s theme was chosen as a way of raising awareness about the importance of asthma treatment across the globe.
Asthma in Australia
Around 11% of all Australians have asthma – a whopping 2.7 million people. It affects people of all ages, and is one of the most commonly reported chronic diseases for young Australians up to the age of 14 years old.
The cost of asthma has an effect on the Australian healthcare system as well as the lives of asthma patients and their caregivers. The cost of asthma in Australia was estimated to be $28 billion in 2015.
It’s estimated that around 80% of asthma hospitalisations in Australia are preventable. While there is no cure for asthma, there are steps that can be taken to help manage the condition. However, only approximately 28% of people with asthma have an asthma action plan.
Raising awareness about asthma and how it can be managed is vital in minimising the effect asthma has on the lives of sufferers, educating health professionals and caregivers in correct asthma management, and reducing the instance of serious asthma attacks that require hospitalisation.
Symptoms and triggers of asthma
Public awareness around asthma can lead to more people being diagnosed with the condition, as well as educating people on avoiding common asthma triggers.
Symptoms of asthma:
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing or whistling when breathing
- Coughing
- Chest pain or tightness
Asthma triggers:
Asthma exacerbations and triggers can vary from person to person. Common asthma triggers include:
- Air pollution
- Cigarette smoke
- Exercise
- Animals
- Dust mites
- Pollen
- Mould
- Colds or other respiratory illnesses
- Cold weather & air
Managing asthma
There are several different approaches to managing asthma, from avoiding triggers, to treating symptoms, to preventing symptoms, and treating other conditions that worsen asthma.
Asthma sufferers should regularly see their healthcare provider to update their asthma treatment plan (once a year for adults, or once every 6 months for children).
Finding a healthcare provider that understands the importance of an asthma action plan is vital. Healthcare providers should ensure they are educated in asthma control and management.
Why an asthma action plan?
An asthma treatment plan is designed to keep symptoms under control, keep asthma from interfering with the day to day life of the patient, prevent asthma attacks or flare ups, and keep the lungs and body as healthy as possible.
‘Uncontrolled asthma’ is the name given to asthma that is causing frequent (often daily) symptoms, or requires regular use of quick-relief medication (such as an inhaler). Uncontrolled asthma can negatively affect the life of a patient. Asthma patients are more likely to report a poor quality of life than those without asthma, and unmanaged asthma is more likely to affect the day to day life of a patient.
How to manage asthma
There is no one standard action plan for managing asthma, as its severity varies from person to person. Healthcare providers should follow several templates of action plans to personalise an appropriate plan for a patient.
However, management of asthma may include:
- Reliever: The use of an inhaler (puffer) when necessary. An inhaler, such as a ventolin inhaler, helps to open up the airways when the patient has symptoms of asthma such as difficulty breathing.
- Preventer: A preventer such as corticosteroid is sometimes used to make the airways less likely to be exacerbated by triggers. Preventer medication must be used regularly to offer results in helping to manage asthma symptoms.
- Spacers: Spacers are used to help an asthma sufferer inhale their medication. When a spacer is used with an inhaler, it increases the amount of medication that reaches the lungs. These are particularly effective for children with asthma.
It’s important that an up-to-date asthma management plan is provided to all caregivers, such as grandparents, day-care and school, along with the necessary supplies. A product such as an asthma care module or asthma bum bag kit keeps the asthma action plan, inhaler and spacer all in one place to ensure it’s on hand if needed.
These ready-made asthma supply kits are handy to have in workplaces, childcare centres, healthcare facilities or in the car of those with an asthma sufferer in the family.
Raising awareness
Events such as Asthma Awareness Month are working to close the current gaps in accessibility to asthma management plans and supplies across the globe. Raising awareness is an important step in providing education around asthma and asthma management.
In addition to World Asthma Day, other community engagement initiatives can be paramount in raising awareness in the community.
Asthma management supplies
Medical suppliers play a role in ensuring accessibility of asthma management supplies to all that need it.
Here at LFA First Response, we are committed to supporting asthma management in Australia. We supply high quality asthma inhalers, asthma kits and asthma spacers to help asthma patients, their caregivers and healthcare providers manage the condition.
This World Asthma Day, let’s get behind this global initiative to raise awareness around asthma and asthma management. Shop from a trusted wholesale medical supplier today.
