Asthma Awareness

Written by rebeccah

Asthma is a serious but generally manageable condition that affects 1 in 9 Australians throughout childhood and/or adulthood. It impacts your ability to breath by causing spasms and narrowing of your airways.

Light blue background. Animated image of a red and pink pair of lungs in the centre with a grey/blue asthma inhaler on either side.

What Does Asthma Feel Like?

  • Wheezing
  • Coughing
  • Breathlessness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Tightness in the chest

These symptoms often feel worse in the morning, at night or after exercise.

What Causes Asthma?

It’s not quite known why you can develop this condition, however, we know you are at an increased risk if you have a family history of asthma, eczema and hay fever.

How Can You Manage Your Asthma?

Know your triggers: triggers are things that increase your symptoms and the risk of an attack. These are different for each person and some triggers can be avoided while others cannot.

Common triggers include:

  • Pollen, dust mites, smoke or smoking etc.
  • Having a cold.
  • Spray deodorants and perfumes.
  • Exercise or strenuous activities.
  • Pet allergies.
  • Emotional triggers such as laughter, crying, panic attacks and stress.

Eat well: a well balanced diet with a variety of fruits, vegetables and fish is helpful to maintaining airway health which can reduce the amount of flare-ups of symptoms.

Medication: your symptoms can often controlled with preventative and reliever inhalers.

Visit your GP if you are concerned about your symptoms or feel like your asthma is out of control.

Find more of our health tips here.

Book an appointment with us here or call us on 9651 5559.

Source:

Asthma Australia. https://asthma.org.au/about-asthma/

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