Attack Asthma this Autumn

As summer gives way to autumn, cooler weather, changes in humidity, and increased exposure to respiratory viruses as we spend more time indoors, can all trigger asthma, causing flare-ups that make symptoms worse.

Asthma is one of the most common health conditions in Australia, affecting 2.8 million people. In the Illawarra Shoalhaven, asthma is a significant reason people to go to the Emergency Department (ED), with people living in the area attending Emergency Departments on 1,110 occasions in 2024. People with asthma sometimes end up spending the night in hospital, with 271 Illawarra Shoalhaven residents doing so in financial year 2022–2023.

Most of these hospital visits are potentially preventable, if people with asthma have access to the right treatment and support. People often forget that asthma is a chronic condition. That means it is a long-term disease that needs to be looked after all the time, not just when the person experiences symptoms like coughing and wheezing. If someone has asthma, it is always present and when their lungs are exposed to an asthma trigger, the airway will react by swelling and squeezing tight, producing asthma symptoms.

The good news is that with the right medication and knowledge, most people with asthma can live full lives and participate in the full range of activities.

Asthma Australia’s Attack Asthma campaign encourages families to take a proactive approach to their child’s asthma. The first step is having an up-to-date Asthma Action Plan and maintaining good control of their asthma so that they are less vulnerable to flare-ups.

The Asthma Australia website is a great source for all the resources you need to look after asthma. You can download a physical copy of an Asthma Action Plan for your doctor can fill in and complete the Asthma Control Questionnaire to see how good your asthma control is. Asthma Australia also offers a free telephone information service provided by their Asthma Educators by calling 1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462) or visiting the Asthma Australia website.

Healthy Cities Australia is supporting Asthma Australia’s work by partnering with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District’s Community Asthma Service. We provide free community workshops that help families living with asthma improve their understanding of the condition and look after it better at home. The next Give Me Space! workshop will be held at Unanderra Community Centre on Thursday 16 April from 11am – 3pm.

The workshop is a great opportunity for families to connect with specialist Asthma Nurses, who will provide information and answer questions about asthma. There will be plenty of fun for the whole family, with Milk Crate Circus attending to work with the children. Participants receive a delicious lunch and snacks, a $40 shopping voucher for each adult who attends, and a free spacer device for each child with asthma. Visit our registration page to secure your place.