Jane Prentice (Ryan, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you. I rise to support to motion of the member for Shortland and, in doing so, I support National Asthma Week. Asthma is a condition of the airways in which sensitivity to environmental factors causes the airway to narrow, making it difficult to breathe.

Many Australians would be unaware of how prevalent asthma is in this country. The numbers quoted in the text of the motion are indeed startling. In Australia, asthma affects one in four children, one in seven adolescents and one in 10 adults. That is a total of 2.3 million asthma sufferers in Australia alone. Even more Australians may have undiagnosed asthma, particularly in older age groups. It is estimated that more than half of people aged over 55 with asthma have not been diagnosed.

The prevalence of asthma in Australia is high by international standards for reasons that are not fully understood. What we do know is that asthma prevalence in children and young adults has fallen slightly in recent years. Curiously, asthma affects more boys than girls in the 0-14 years age group, but more females than males aged 15 years and over. The majority of asthma sufferers have what is described as mild or very mild asthma with only occasional attacks. However, a minority suffer from persistent asthma that requires ongoing daily management.

The large number of asthma sufferers in Australia has a significant cost impact on the Australian economy. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimated that expenditure on asthma was $655 million in 2008-09 or, to put it another way, almost one per cent of the total allocated health expenditure in Australia. There is no single trigger that causes asthma. Every case is different; however, common triggers include aerosol sprays, air pollution, dust mites, pets and pollen.

There are also differences in how symptoms are experienced. Most common symptoms are shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness and a dry, irritating and continual cough. Anyone with these persistent symptoms is strongly encouraged to seek further advice from their GP.

If not managed properly, asthma can lead to hospitalisation and even, in extreme cases, death. In 2012, there were 394 deaths in Australia attributed to asthma. While rates of hospitalisation and mortality due to asthma are on the long-term decline, it serves to highlight the importance of proper management of the condition. Of concern is that it is estimated that up 90 per cent of people who have asthma inhalers do not use them correctly, which puts them at an increased risk of an asthma flare-up or attack. The good news is that asthma can be controlled with medication and lifestyle changes. There are a variety of treatments available and Asthma Australia recommends consulting your GP for advice on which method will work best for you. Having a healthy diet and an active lifestyle helps with the management of asthma, as does maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding smoking and minimizing stress—a bit difficult in this place!

Asthma awareness week is not just about educating asthma suffers themselves. Any person with asthma can have a flare-up of symptoms at any time. With so many Australians living with asthma, it is just as important that those around them are aware of the signs of an asthma flare-up or attack and know what to do when they occur. Asthma Australia advises that, if a person has obvious difficulties breathing, cannot speak a full sentence in one breath, is coughing or wheezing or is not responding to their usual reliever medication, bystanders should call triple 0 immediately. If you have a family member who has asthma, it may be worth learning Asthma first aid. There is a standard procedure that can be followed by adults and children. Further details are available on the Asthma Australia website.

Asthma Australia is not only dedicated to raising awareness of asthma; it also funds the National Asthma Research Program, which offers general research grants and scholarships to support understanding of new and more effective treatments for asthma. Donations are welcome from the general public, with the hope that one day a cure will be found.

The more we understand about asthma, the better we are able to diagnose it, treat it and manage it. The downward trend in hospitalisations and deaths from asthma is a promising sign that the message is getting out there. I commend Asthma Australia for the good work that they are doing, not just in raising awareness but also in raising funding for research into treatments and potential cures. I thank the member for Shortland for bringing the motion to the House today.

Debate adjourned.

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