Robin Ould
There are number of symptoms for asthma. These include breathlessness, tight chest, wheezing and persistent cough. Asthma can be triggered in different ways for different people: colds and flu, smoke, dust and pollution, inhaled allergens, workplace chemicals, some foods and food additives, some medications, over-exercising, and emotions, eg., stress.
The common treatment is the medication Ventolin, either with a puffer or as a pill. People with continuing asthma symptoms are encouraged to see their doctor.
Mr Ould spoke about the work of the Asthma Foundation and how it now operates a number of training programs through the Foundation’s Registered Training Organization (RTO). Under the slogan “Learn it. Live it.”, RTO courses include Anaphylaxis Awareness covering treatment for anaphylaxis emergencies, for example, triggered by nut and other allergies. Other RTO courses cover training for a range of asthma-related emergencies.
According to Mr Ould, nowadays, having asthma is not an impediment to leading a normal life. Many of our top sports men and women have asthma. In fact 40 % of our top swimmers have asthma; swimming is a recognised treatment for asthma – the better air quality immediately above the swimmers head greatly helps in the breathing process.
It was thought that the prevalence of asthma was worse in Australia’s southern states. However, it has been found that Darwin, FNQ, Brisbane and other northern places has the same number of asthma cases as Victoria and Tasmania!!
