 World Asthma Day
-
May 3, 2005
Each year the NAC highlights a particular aspect
pf asthma management to mark World Asthma Day.
Asthma – in case of emergency...
The National Asthma Council is urging people with
asthma to ensure they understand their personal asthma
needs and know what to do in case of an emergency.
More than two million Australians have asthma.
Thankfully, asthma deaths in Australia have fallen
significantly over the past decade.
But, some people with asthma still don’t understand
their condition and have difficulty managing their
asthma - putting them at potential risk of an asthma
emergency.
In fact, asthma presentations to Australian hospital
Emergency Departments remain common, with many patients
repeatedly turning to the Emergency Department for help.
Many of the people presenting to Emergency
Departments suffer from mild to moderate asthma and
their symptoms may have been avoidable.
Recent Australian statistics show that approximately
60 per cent of people with asthma presenting to the
Emergency Department have mild asthma, about 30 per cent
have a moderate attack and less than ten per cent
present with a severe episode.
There is an urgent need for all Australians with
asthma to understand their condition and know how to
deal with the symptoms before they escalate and a
feeling of ‘being out of control’ sets in.
The key to successful asthma management is a good
patient/general practitioner relationship where the
GP can help the patient develop a tailored written
asthma action plan, helping them tune into their own
asthma needs and ensuring they know what to do when
their symptoms get worse.
If you can’t access your GP and you’ve followed your
asthma action plan but it’s not working, then the
Emergency Department is the place to be.
While the majority of asthma sufferers present to the
Emergency Department as a result of a flare-up or
worsening symptoms, there is also evidence to suggest
that some people use the emergency department as a
regular source of primary care.1
For patients who don’t have a GP, Emergency
Departments can help by linking them up with local GPs
with a special interest in asthma and referring them to
asthma educators and other key resources.
Avoiding an Asthma Emergency
- Develop a relationship with a local GP.
- With the GP’s help prepare a personal written
asthma action plan and follow its advice.
- Part of your asthma action plan should include
going to the Emergency Department if your condition
becomes serious, so know where the nearest one is
and how you will get there, just in case.
- Have regular check ups to monitor your asthma
and, when necessary, refine your written asthma
action plan with your GP.
- Learn as much as you can about asthma. The
National Asthma Council website (www.nationalasthma.org.au),
Asthma Foundations (national helpline 1800 645 130),
local community health centres and asthma support
groups can all help.
1.
Attendance at hospital emergency departments,
Australian Centre for Asthma Monitoring 2003.
Useful Resources
First Aid for
Asthma
Asthma Action Plans
For more information or support, contact your
local Asthma Foundation on 1800 645 130.
Asthma Foundations of Australia
Asthma Foundation of the ACT
Asthma Foundation of New South Wales
Asthma Foundation of Northern Territory
Asthma Foundation of Queensland
Asthma Foundation of South Australia
Asthma Foundation of Tasmania
Asthma Foundation of Victoria
Asthma Foundation of Western Australia
For more information on allergies go to
Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and
Allergy
Previous World Asthma Day Themes
World Asthma Day
2004 - Australia leads the way toward better asthma
management
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