Asthma Experts Urge: Take Action in Asthma Week (1-7 September 2011)

1 September 2011

The first week of spring each year is also National Asthma Week and Australia’s asthma experts are urging the two million plus Aussies with asthma to make sure they have an up-to-date written asthma action plan.

According to National Asthma Council Australia chairman, Dr Noela Whitby, asthma prevalence in this country is relatively high and hundreds of people die unnecessary deaths from asthma each year.

“We can’t cure asthma but we can work together to stop it in its tracks,” she said.

This year’s National Asthma Week theme is: you can help someone with asthma. 

And, Dr Whitby says the best way to help someone you care about who has asthma is to encourage them to use the week as a prompt to update their personal written asthma action plan.

“In the same way that daylight savings signals the time to change your smoke alarm battery, National Asthma Week is the time make a resolution to see your GP and make sure you have a current and up to date action plan,” she urged.

These written instructions help people with asthma, as well as their family, carers and neighbours, recognise how to tell if asthma symptoms are getting worse and what action to take.

“People with a written asthma action plan have better controlled asthma, fewer symptoms and fewer days off work or school because of asthma,” Dr Whitby said.

“So, what’s stopping you?  There’s no better prompt than National Asthma Week to make sure you are prepared to manage your condition over the coming months, especially during the upcoming allergy season which can be particularly problematic for people with asthma,” she said.

Most GPs around Australia are now using the handy new National Asthma Council Australia ‘z-card’ written asthma action plan templates which fold down to credit-card size, making it easy to carry in a wallet or pocket at all times.

Templates action plans can also be downloaded from: www.nationalasthma.org,au

Quick Asthma Facts

  • More than two million Australians have asthma.
  • Poorly managed asthma can be fatal.
  • The latest Australian asthma death toll recorded 411 deaths in 2009 - 131 males and 280 females.

For further information or to arrange an interview with a National Asthma Council Australia spokesperson, please contact:

Cathy Palfreyman
Ogilvy Public Relations
Tel: 03 8638 2194
Mob: 0438 001 086
Cathy.palfreyman@ogilvy.com.au

Kelly Ward
Ogilvy Public Relations
Tel: 03 8638 2192
Mob: 0407 860 834
kelly.ward@ogilvy.com.au