Alarming asthma issues
July 5, 2012
NEW asthma survey has
revealed a surprising national
shortfall in the awareness of the
symptoms of asthma, as well as a
worryingly laid-back attitude
towards its treatment.
Released to support the launch of
a national asthma education
program endorsed by National
Asthma Council Australia and The
Pharmacy Guild of Australia and
developed by GSK Australia, called
“There’s nothing normal about
asthma symptoms,” the online
study involved 1,011 Australian
adults aged 18-45 who had been
diagnosed with asthma by a doctor.
According to the results, less than
half of adults’ surveyed believed
asthma needed ongoing treatment
and 64% were unaware that over
time, poorly controlled asthma and
repeated attacks have the potential
to cause permanent changes to the
lungs.
Interestingly, the survey found
respondents were more likely to
take vitamin supplements than use
preventer medication daily (42 per
cent and 25 per cent respectively).
Of those that did report using
preventer medication (52%) half did
not use the medications correctly.
In addition 55% of those using
preventer medication said that they
didn’t think their asthma was
serious enough to warrant using it
as recommended and 32 per cent
believed they controlled their
asthma well enough using reliever
medication.
Responding to the results
Associate Professor Noela Whitby,
Chairman, National Asthma Council
Australia said “There is an alarming
difference between adults’
perception of their asthma
management and the reality.
“It appears they aren’t fully aware
of their symptoms and don’t
register that they shouldn’t be just
part of having asthma.
“We need to make sure that
adults with asthma are managing
their asthma well and are able
to recognise when their symptoms
are getting out of control in order
to minimise long-term risks, rather
than relying on quick fix relief,” she
added.
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