Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways, which causes people to experience difficulty breathing. Symptoms may include wheezing, chest tightness and a shortness of breath.
Asthma affects people of all ages, it is estimated that one in ten Australians have some form of Asthma.
Since the 1970’s the incidence of asthma has increased significantly due to a number of factors, including environment. In 2011, approximately 270 million people were diagnosed with asthma around the world.
If you are suffering from recurring wheezing, or are experiencing difficulty with breathing, then you may be developing or have asthma, and should seek the advice of a health professional immediately.
A health professional is trained and experienced and one close by to you can be found through www.doctors.com.au.
If you are diagnosed as having asthma, the best management of your condition is to be vigilant and informed. Having a good understanding of your medication, as well as when to use it, will assist you in treating the condition greatly.
Doctor’s will usually treat the acute symptoms of asthma with an inhaled pharmaceutical. If a patient is suffering from extreme breathing difficulties, then hospitalisation may be required.
Once a diagnosis has been made, a tailored plan for monitoring and managing symptoms can be created. This could include the prescription and management of medicines, as well as the reduction of exposure to environmental irritants.
The outlook for asthma sufferers is usually quite good, especially for children with a mild case of the condition. Half of children diagnosed with asthma during childhood will not be affected by the condition after a decade. Death rates have also greatly decreased over time due to the recognition of the condition and improvement in treating it.