National Asthma Week, 1-7 September 2023
September 1 to 7 is National Asthma Week
Around 2.7 million Australians (11%) have asthma. If you have asthma an asthma check up (Asthma Review) with your GP is recommended every 6-12 months.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic lung disease affecting people of all ages. It is caused by inflammation and muscle tightening around the airways, which makes it harder to breathe. Symptoms can include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness. These symptoms can be mild or severe and can come and go over time.
What is good asthma control?
Good asthma control means having all of the following:
- No asthma symptoms at night time
- No asthma symptoms on waking in the morning
- No need for reliever medication (ie: no couch, wheeze, or shortness of breath)
- No restriction of day-to-day activities
- No days off school or work due to asthma
- No asthma attacks or flare-ups
Regularly waking from asthma symptoms or using your reliever medication more than 2–3 times a week (except before exercise) should not be a ‘normal’ part of having asthma. If you are having symptoms or requiring your reliever (blue) puffer more than once a week, your asthma is not well controlled and you should book an Asthma Review with your GP and Practice Nurse.
Use your preventer every day, even when well
Your preventer medication is designed for regular every day use, to keep your asthma under control. Many people get confused and are only using a reliever medication (often a blue puffer), and are missing out on achieving good control of asthma.
Spirometry
Spirometry is a type of lung function (breathing) test that can help your doctor to assess whether you have asthma, and how well your asthma is controlled. Spirometry is readily available at both Glebe Hill Family Practice and GHFP Nurture. Most adults and children over 6 years of age can do the spirometry test correctly.
Book an Asthma Review
You can book an Asthma Review appointment at Glebe Hill Family Practice or GHFP Nurture online from the AMS connect app or this website. You will see a Practice Nurse and your GP, and they will assess your asthma symptoms and control, and arrange any further testing (such as spirometry) and management to help you achieve good asthma control.
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