National Asthma Week 2024
National Asthma Week is 1-7 September and Sensitive Choice is supporting the National Asthma Council Australia in raising awareness about asthma, the importance of having an up to date asthma action plan and correct medication use and device technique.
The National Asthma Council Australia’s Sensitive Choice program is helping people better understand asthma and promoting good asthma management.
Understanding asthma
For National Asthma Week 2024, we collaborated with Dr Joel Ten, GP and spokesperson for the National Asthma Council Australia, to create a short video series about asthma.
Watch our videos to learn more about:
What does asthma look like?
Asthma is a chronic lung condition that affects the airways (the breathing tubes that carry air into our lungs).
Asthma is caused by inflammation and tightening of the thin muscle around the airways which makes it harder to breathe.
Dr Joel Ten, GP, breaks down the changes to the airways when someone is having an asthma attack.
What does asthma feel like? Understanding asthma symptoms.
People often describe having asthma as trying to breathe through a straw.
Dr Joel Ten, GP, goes through the symptoms of asthma and what they can feel like.
What is the difference between asthma relievers and asthma preventers?
The mainstay of asthma medications is the asthma preventer, yet many people do not know the difference between their preventer and reliever medications.
Dr Joel Ten, GP, explains how both medications work and the physical changes to the lungs and airways when using a reliever or using a preventer.
Key facts
- Around 2.8 million (1 in 9) people in Australia were estimated to be living with asthma in 2022.
- It accounted for 2.5% of total disease burden and 35% of the total burden of disease for all respiratory conditions in 2023.
- It is the leading cause of total burden in children aged 1–9 years.
- Only 32% of people with asthma have an asthma action plan.
- Up to 94% of patients with asthma do not use their asthma inhaler correctly.
- There were 56,600 emergency department visits due to asthma in a year (in 2020-21).
- There were 25,500 asthma related hospitalisations in a year (in 2021-22).
An infographic poster has been developed for National Asthma Week and is available in two sizes:
Click the links above to download and print in either size.
Sensitive Choice is a National Asthma Council Australia program, dedicated to helping people live better with asthma and allergies.
Maintain good asthma management this National Asthma Week and every week
Sensitive Choice has a range of fact sheets, how-to videos and resources to help you better manage your asthma and allergies.
From understanding which allergens trigger your symptoms to knowing asthma first aid, Sensitive Choice has the essential tools to empower you to better manage your asthma.
Our most popular resources include:
Visit our resource hub to access all the essential resources.
Make a Sensitive Choice this National Asthma Week!
The Sensitive Choice program also helps people identify products and services that have been rigorously reviewed and approved as asthma and allergy friendly.
The iconic Sensitive Choice blue butterfly is only found on products that have been identified with a potential to benefit people living with asthma, allergies and other sensitivities.
Everything that has the Sensitive Choice logo has been through a stringent application process, independently reviewed by a panel of experts, including an allergist, chemical engineer, a GP, a lawyer, a pharmacist and other professionals.
The blue butterfly can be found on hundreds of products or services in over 65 countries, ranging from bedding products, air treatment devices, building materials, vacuum cleaners, body washes and more.
When buying products for your home or family, make a Sensitive Choice and choose an asthma and allergy friendly option.
Sources
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-respiratory-conditions/asthma
https://www.nationalasthma.org.au/news/2024/new-supplementary-labels-for-inhalers