Asthma warning for the Wimmera

AWimmera harvest combined with a thunderstorm season has prompted a Wimmera Health Care Group warning to people who suffer from asthma and-or hayfever.

Respiratory nurse Heather Macdonald said there was a FRQ¿UPHG OLQN EHWZHHQ KD\ fever, asthma and thunderstorms and it was important for people to be prepared.

“With the combination of thunderstorms and harvest stirring up grasses, dust and pollen, we urge people to be SUHSDUHG DQG PDNH VXUH WKHLU medication is in date and close by,” she said.

“Reliever inhalers, such as Ventolin and Asmol can continue to ‘squirt’ sometime after there is no longer medication in them, so it is important to have a new one on standby.

³,W LV DOVR LPSRUWDQW WR FKHFN that your reliever inhaler is still in date. This can be done by removing the metal canister from the device.”

Ms Macdonald said the Wimmera had one of the highest rates of asthma in Australia and was also a problem area for pollen and dust allergies.

“People who have not experienced asthma for years, or ever before, can develop asthma,” she said.

Ms Macdonald said a new mobile phone application that showed pollen counts – Melbourne Pollen Count – could help people be aware of asthma-danger days.

“Anyone who has a past history of asthma or hayfever can H[SHULHQFH DQ DVWKPD ÀDUH LI the weather and pollen conditions are right, even if they have been symptom free for many years,” she said.

Ms Macdonald said if people did believe they were experiencing asthma symptoms they should –

‡ 6HHN PHGLFDO DWWHQWLRQ LP mediately if they do not have asthma medication.

• Use their reliever inhaler with a spacer when short of breath.

• Continue with usual daily preventer medications, including antihistamines for hay fever.

Ms Macdonald said reliever inhalers should provide some relief within minutes.

“If they do not and symptoms rapidly worsen, call 000 and continue using your reliever inhaler four puffs every four minutes,” she said.

More information and instructions for use of inhalers and spacers is available on Asthma Australia’s website, www.asthmaaustralia.org.au.

A general recommendation for people who aware they suffer from pollen related hayfever and asthma is to try to stay inside on windy, stormy days to try and reduce triggers.

Symptoms of asthma can include –

• Constant coughing.

• Increasing breath at rest. • Wheezing. • Tightness in chest. or intermittent shortness of