 In
this Issue December 2002
Significant Achievement in Better
Asthma Management
Summer Feature
Activity in 2003
Significant Achievement in Better Asthma Management
The National Asthma Council has been working hard to
improve the health of people with asthma. Results over
the past decade have been very encouraging with a
significantly reduced death rate. The latest statistics
released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show
that the annual asthma death toll has fallen from 454 in
2000 to 422 in 2001, the lowest number recorded in five
years.
A review of the statistics shows that the majority of
asthma deaths occurred in the older aged bracket of more
than 80 years. Very few children died from asthma with
just one child in the 0 to nine year age bracket.
In 2002, as the asthma deaths drop to an all time low in
five years, the National Asthma Council recognises the
collaborative efforts of the community, doctors and
pharmacists in helping reduce the numbers. The key to
fewer deaths and better health is working with all
people with asthma to get the best possible control of
their symptoms.
Knowing how to manage asthma and with so many advances in
medications makes any death from asthma today a real
tragedy.
New initiatives in the attack against asthma such as the
federal government's rollout of the National Asthma
Council's 3+ Visit Plan for GPs and people with moderate
or severe asthma has been an important strategy in
improving asthma symptom control and reducing deaths.
In March this year, the National Asthma Council launched
the fifth edition of Asthma Management Handbook (AMH
2002), written primarily for general practitioners and
community pharmacists to provide a comprehensive
approach to asthma care for all health professionals.
Along with the designation of asthma as a national
health priority and significant funding from the
Australian government, the awareness and understanding
of asthma and how serious it can be continues to build
in the community.
For the past decade the National Asthma Council has been
educating Australians about asthma and better asthma
management practices. As we move into 2003, and
increasingly uncertain times, there is one certainty:
the National Asthma Council will continue to lead the
attack against asthma.
Summer Feature
The "Weekend" Competitor
 Warmer
weather during the summer months can entice even the
most reluctant person to engage in some form of
exercise. Most of us will probably have sporting careers
confined to a social game of cricket, golf or tennis but
there are also plenty of weekend athletes who are in the
elite category.
Whether you are a social or serious athlete, if you have
asthma you should have a written Asthma Action Plan,
even if it is simply to manage exercise-induced asthma
(EIA).
EIA may be the only symptom of asthma in some people but
may also indicate undertreated asthma.
More information
See
managing exercise-induced asthma
Activity in 2003
For many people planning for their 2003
activities is already well underway. If you are
considering improving your professional skills in
managing people with asthma, you may wish to review the
courses and videos available from the Lung Health
Promotion Centre at the Alfred.
Lung Health Promotion Centre at the Alfred Course
Information
The Thoracic Society of Australia and New
Zealand and The Australian and New Zealand Society of
Respiratory Science have their Annual Scientific
Meetings in Adelaide at the Adelaide Convention Centre
from 4 – 9 April 2003.
TSANZ and ANZSRS Scientific Meetings Information
Finally, for 2002, the National Asthma Council wishes
everyone a safe holiday season and we look forward to
bringing the newsletter to you in 2003.
Created December 17, 2002
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