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Dear Friend,
With NAIDOC week just coming to an end, I’d like to begin by acknowledging the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation, the traditional owners of the land where our Asthma WA offices are found. I’d also like to pay my respects to the Elders, past, present and emerging who have contributed and worked alongside us to provide ongoing services to many of WA’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
This winter our Respiratory Health Team have noticed an increased anxiety in our community about coughing in public - a common symptom of asthma and COPD that has unfortunately taken on a new level of suspicion due to the pandemic reaching our State. We have pulled together some tips to help navigate this challenging scenario, along with where to access the support to manage your mental health in general.
Have you seen our recent fundraising campaign leading into winter, that talks about Jess and her son Riley who found support and answers at our Children’s Asthma Hub (formerly the Paediatric Respiratory Hub)? It highlights the very reason the Hub exists – to help every child breathe easy. We have been overwhelmed by the amazing support from the WA community, helping raise vital funds so we can help even more families. Thank you to everyone who has donated – we couldn’t do it without you. There is still time to contribute to the campaign if you’re able, via the website.
As ever, our free services are available to everyone in Western Australia who needs them. So, should you have any questions or wish to book an appointment, please do not hesitate to call our Respiratory Health Team on (08) 9289 3600.
Wishing you all the best in health,
Donna Rendell
Chief Executive Officer
Asthma WA
PS – While some of our services don’t require a doctor’s referral, it’s best to check in with your GP first. They can access all the information they need on our Health Professionals webpage.
Coughing in times of COVID
Coughing can be one of the more obvious and annoying symptoms of asthma, COPD and other respiratory conditions, including hayfever. But where previously coughing or using a tissue in public would have been met with empathy or simply gone unnoticed, many people are now facing suspicion and stigma. So how do you respond in these situations?
Asthma Action Kits
Have young children or grandchildren with asthma? Carry on with your busy life with confidence, with this Asthma Action Kit.
Designed specifically for children under 5 years old, it contains two spacers and masks inside a dedicated easily-identifiable pouch. Asthma first aid instructions are also included, so you know your young ones will be safe wherever they go.
Your respiratory health and mental wellbeing
Having a respiratory illness can be exhausting and many people find this strain can take its toll.
Your mental health can be impacted by several aspects of living with a chronic respiratory condition including anxiety and past trauma, embarrassment and isolation, low mood and inactivity.
But it doesn’t have to be that way, and there is help available.
Sleepless nights - a child with asthma
For six-year-old Riley, the flare-ups would come without warning. The wheezing would become a barking cough leaving him breathless and gasping for air. He would barely sleep for days at a time leaving him exhausted. He had trouble focusing and was always grumpy. His mum, Jess would soothe her little boy as best she could, but she barely recognised the bubbly little toddler he’d once been.
Jess will never forget. “Riley would have these awful attacks. I was constantly terrified and ... I wouldn’t sleep because I’d be listening to him, making sure he was breathing.”
Does this sound familiar? It’s the reality of so many parents of children with asthma. It’s the reason the Children’s Asthma Hub (formerly Paediatric Respiratory Hub) was developed – to help families get a quicker diagnosis, vital education and ongoing support.
Containers for Change
Every time you save a container from landfill using the Containers for Change program, you can choose to donate 10c to Asthma WA.
You simply need to quote our Scheme ID next time you return your containers to a refund point – ours is C10312183.
Woodfires in winter
Wood fires and fire pits are still a popular feature in many homes and back yards, and for people with a respiratory condition, smoke is a common trigger. Winter is also a time when private landowners make the most of the cool but dry conditions to burn off without needing a permit, before prescribed burns commence again in August.
We know it is frustrating and scary. But now is the time to familiarise yourself with your triggers, have an appointment with your GP to review your Asthma Action Plan, ensure your medications are in-date and full and speak to our Respiratory Health Team about Asthma First Aid and check your device technique.
You can also access a range of resource on our website including Emergency WA, prescribed burn information, air quality updates and more. Join our Asthma Alert community on Facebook to receive notifications on smoke, bushfire and air quality alerts.
How to access our services
Did you know that you can refer yourself to many of our services?
Our Respiratory Health Nurses and Educators can provide a thorough and tailored information session about the latest and best practice ways to manage your asthma and COPD diagnosis, organise lung function testing for adults and children, and teach you essential Asthma First Aid.
If you do require a GP referral, our respiratory health team can help with that too.
For more information, give us a call: (08) 9289 3600 or email: ask@asthmawa.org.au
Air Travel for People with Respiratory Disease
by Dr John Blakey
Over the last couple of years, we have been restricted in our movements because of the coronavirus pandemic. With borders opening and restrictions lifting, many of us will be looking to fly off on holiday, or to visit family and friends.
However, travelling by plane can be a problem for some people with chronic respiratory disease and may require additional planning.
What better to warm you up this winter than a tasty no-crust pumpkin pie (hopefully pumpkins are not too expensive in the shops right now!). Thanks to Jacqui, our Respiratory Health Educator, for this well-loved family recipe.
Ingredients
3 eggs
125g butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup plain flour
1tbsp baking powder
2ml salt
400g cooked butternut pumpkin
5ml vanilla extract
Sauce ingredients
¾ - 1 cup evaporated milk
¾ (or 2/3) cup sugar
1 tsp caramel essence
Method
Pie: Cream butter and sugar, add eggs one at a time. Add dry ingredients to mixture, gently fold. Stir in pumpkin and vanilla. Pour into greased oven dish. Bake for approximate 45mins at 180°C
Sauce: Mix all sauce ingredients to a pan and bring to the boil. Pour over pie when removed from oven.
Children’s Asthma Hub supporting WA families
1 in 5 Australian children have asthma and it’s the leading cause of hospitalisations in children under four. Prior to the Children’s Asthma Hub, families could bounce around the system for months trying to get a diagnosis and treatment plan. The Children’s Asthma Hub solves this for families by providing children with a full assessment, diagnosis and treatment plan, all in one place and in one appointment – and it’s free!
Since commencing the Children’s Asthma Hub in September 2019, we have supported more than 500 Western Australian children and their families. Their feedback has been very positive with more than 50% of these children updating their asthma management plan following their appointment and also reporting having better medication device technique. They have also commented on a decrease in waiting times and less time off school and work to attend appointments. These positive education and productivity benefits cannot be underestimated when evaluating the complex impact and stressors asthma has on the entire family.
It with enormous thanks for the support of the Channel 7 Telethon Trust and Stan Perron Charitable Foundation that we have been able to adapt and maintain a high standard of care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Clinical Nurses changing outcomes for young and old
In 2019, the McCusker Charitable Foundation enabled us to expand our service delivery through the appointment of a part time registered nurse to support the more complex cases of asthma and COPD. Thanks to their continued generosity, we now employ two registered nurses who work across our COPD discharge program and the Children’s Asthma Hub. These roles are essential in providing clinical support to some of our community’s most vulnerable, helping them to better understand and manage their respiratory health and improve their overall wellbeing.
"Kate and Jacqui play a vital role in supporting people being discharged from hospital who are often unsure about new medications and what they need to do to stay out of hospital. Through the education and support they provide, we can ensure they are following an individualised plan that increases their confidence, and linking them back into their GP to ensure they are getting the best possible care” - Jenny Howson, General Manager Health and Regional Services
Both the COPD Supported Discharge Program and the Children’s Asthma Hub have been essential services through the COVID-19 pandemic, providing ongoing support and advice for families in person and via telehealth. Despite the increase in numbers of people testing positive for COVID-19 in workplaces, schools and the wider community, we have continued to provide services utilising telehealth and video conferencing to ensure both our clients and our staff are protected. As COVID-19 rates track upwards again, offering this at-home service limits vulnerable patients being compromised by avoiding going into a hospital situation where infection risk is high and to minimise the burden on an already over-stretched hospital system.
2nd – 17th July – School holidays
Sat 30 July – World Friendship Day
Sat 21 August – World Senior Citizens Day
1 – 7 September – National Asthma Week
Sun 4 September – Father's Day
8 September – RUOK? Day
8 – 14 September – Women’s Health Week
October – Wheezy Walk starts
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