Asthma

Asthma is a disorder affecting the airways of the lungs. People with asthma have very sensitive airways that narrow in response to certain "triggers", leading to difficulty in breathing. The airway narrowing is caused by inflammation and swelling of the airway lining, the tightening of the airway muscles, and the production of excess mucus. This results in a reduced airflow in and out of the lungs.

Asthma is Australia's most widespread chronic (long-term and persistent) health problem. It affects over 2 million Australians: 1 in 7 primary school-aged children, 1 in 8 teenagers and 1 in 9 adults. At present the cause of asthma is not known and there is no cure.

However, asthma is treatable: medications, asthma management and education are improving all the time. With appropriate treatment and a personal commitment to good self-management, most people with asthma can lead normal, active lives. Indeed, many are high-achieving sportspeople.

The Australian Government, through the Asthma Management Programme, promotes the Asthma Cycle of Care as the model of 'best practice' for people with moderate to severa asthma. The Asthma Cycle of Care helps GPs and patients to work together for the best possible asthma control and quality of life, through ongoing asthma checkups and effective management.

In order to improve asthma care in Australia, the Australian Health Ministers' Conference 2006 has also set out a framework for continued collaboration between everyone affected by asthma and all involved in the care of people with asthma (the National Asthma Strategy 2006-2008 [Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing])

  The following websites contain information on asthma:

Dr Christine Jenkins has also written a HealthInsite Expert View on asthma.

Asthma information in languages other than English can be found at Multicultural Health Communication Service [Multicultural Health Communication Service (NSW)].

To see information on specific asthma topics, simply make a selection from the list below.

Reviewed May 2008

 

 

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Related HealthInsite Topics
What is Asthma?
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on the definition of asthma, symptoms of acute asthma and chronic asthma, and how to recognise it.
Causes of Asthma
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on asthma risk factors and protective factors.
Management of Asthma
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on the aims of effective asthma management, the Six Step Asthma Management Plan, first aid for asthma attacks, medications and devices, trigger avoidance.
Asthma Complications
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to resources about the possible health complications of asthma and asthma medications.
Asthma in Children and Young People
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about asthma in children and young people.
Asthma Support Services
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information on support services, and contacts for people with asthma and for health professionals.
Asthma Statistics
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to statistics on the incidence of asthma, its effects on quality of life and its cost to our community.
Asthma - Expert View
HealthInsite Expert View by Dr Christine Jenkins. Asthma is a disorder affecting the airways of the lung. People with asthma have very sensitive airways that narrow in response to certain ´triggers´, leading to difficulty breathing. The airway narrowing is caused by inflammation and swelling of the airway lining, tightening of the airway muscles, and the production of excess mucus. This results in a reduced airflow in and out of the lungs.
Occupational Asthma
HealthInsite Topic Page
Links to information about occupational asthma and the relationship between the work environment and asthma.
11 Resources Found
Results 1 to 11 displayed.
Title:   Asthma
Publisher:   Virtual Medical Centre.com
Description:   Asthma information covering the symptoms and treatment of the disease of the lungs.
Date:   Aug 2008
Title:   Asthma
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Asthma is a condition which affects the small air passages (bronchi) of the lungs. During an asthma attack, these passages narrow, reducing the flow of air in and out of the lungs. This may lead to wheezing and coughing. Asthma is triggered by many things, like pollen or cigarette smoke.
Date:   Sep 2007
Title:   Asthma overview
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways characterised by extreme breathlessness, wheezing and tightness of the chest.
Date:   Sep 2007
Title:   Asthma
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   This article gives an overview of what asthma is, symptoms of asthma and things that are known to trigger asthma attacks.
Date:   Jul 2007
Title:   Asthma - the basics
Publisher:   The Asthma Foundation of Victoria
Description:   Asthma is a condition that affects the small airways of the lungs. People with asthma have sensitive airways. When these sensitive airways are exposed to certain 'triggers' the airways can narrow, leading to difficulty in breathing.
Date:   Jul 2005
Title:   Asthma
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   Asthma affects as many as one in 6 children and one in 10 adults.
Date:   Feb 2005
Title:   Asthma Facts [Vietnamese]
Publisher:   Multicultural Health Communication Service (NSW)
Description:   Asthma is the situation when the airways in the lungs narrow down as the muscles are being contracted, or being infected or producing too much mucus that causes breathing difficulty.
Date:   Jul 2003
Title:   Asthma facts [Chinese]
Publisher:   Multicultural Health Communication Service (NSW)
Description:   Asthma affects 1 in 4 children and it is the most common cause of hospital admission.
Date:   Jul 2003
Title:   Asthma: basic facts
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   People with asthma have sensitive airways in their lungs. When they are exposed to certain triggers their airways narrow making it hard for them to breathe.
Date:   Apr 2003
Title:   Asthma and food fact file
Publisher:   National Asthma Council Australia (NAC)
Description:   Overview of asthma in Australia, list of asthma triggers and the effects of food, especially dairy products, on asthma sufferers.
Date:   Jun 2002
Title:   Asthma - the basic facts
Publisher:   Multicultural Health Communication Service (NSW)
Description:   People with asthma have sensitive airways in their lungs. When they are exposed to certain triggers, their airways narrow, making it hard for them to breathe.
Date:   Apr 2002
Results 1 to 11 displayed.