Today I am looking at asthma, a long-term condition that affects the airways in our lungs. Inflammation and tightening of the muscles around these airways can make breathing difficult. It affects both children and adults, but treatment can help people lead active lives.
Asthma is quite common in Australia. According to the 2022 National Health Survey, around 2.8 million people, or about 11% of Australians, were living with asthma. That is roughly 1 in 9 people.
Among children under 15, asthma affected approximately 10% of boys and 6.3% of girls. From age 15 onwards, it was more common in females than males. These figures describe the 2022 survey, rather than a count taken today.
There is often no single cause. Family history, allergic conditions such as eczema and hay fever, and environmental exposures can increase the risk of developing asthma. Tobacco smoke, air pollution and workplace dust or fumes can play a part.
Causes and triggers are not quite the same thing: a trigger brings on symptoms in someone who already has asthma. Common triggers include pollen, dust, smoke, strong perfumes, respiratory infections and changes in the weather. Exercise can also bring on symptoms. Triggers vary from person to person.
The main symptoms are wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and a tight feeling in the chest. A cough may be particularly troublesome at night, and symptoms can come and go or worsen during exercise. Sudden worsening is known as an asthma attack. Other conditions can cause similar symptoms, so a healthcare professional should assess them.
There is currently no cure, but asthma can usually be managed. Inhaled corticosteroids reduce airway inflammation and help prevent serious attacks. Bronchodilator medicines open the airways to relieve symptoms, while combination inhalers contain both types of medicine. The right treatment depends on the person and should be prescribed by a healthcare professional.
Knowing your triggers, using your inhaler correctly and having regular reviews are important. A written asthma action plan helps guide day-to-day care and what to do when symptoms worsen. Severe symptoms may require emergency treatment.
Asthma treatment has changed greatly over the years. In Victorian times, medicinal pipes, steam inhalers and even “asthma cigarettes” were used for breathing difficulties. These are historical practices, not treatments to try today: smoke can trigger asthma attacks.
By the mid-20th century, squeeze-bulb inhalers were in use. The metered-dose inhaler, developed in 1956, made inhaled medicine more convenient to deliver. Modern care now combines medicines that open the airways with treatments that tackle inflammation, rather than simply trying to relieve breathlessness.
Asthma may be common, but it deserves proper attention. With appropriate treatment and support, people with asthma can enjoy a normal, active life.
