Lung health

1 Asthma &
Seniors
Some people have Chronic Obstructive Sit the person upright
Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which includes — Be calm and reassuring
chronic bronchitis and emphysema – often — Do not leave them alone
associated with smoking or exposure to
cigarette smoke.
Approximately 7.5 % of Australians over the
2 Give 4 separate puffs of blue/grey
reliever puffer
living well
with asthma
age of 40 have COPD (about 1 in 13 people). — Shake puffer
— Put 1 puff into spacer
To find out more about COPD contact: — Take 4 breaths from spacer
Repeat until 4 puffs have been taken
The Australian Lung Foundation (ALF) Remember: Shake, 1 puff, 4 breaths
1800 654 301 OR Give 2 separate doses of a Bricanyl inhaler (age 6 & over)
or a Symbicort inhaler (over 12).
lungfoundation.org.au
It is common for people with COPD to also have
asthma. It is important to talk to your doctor
3 Wait 4 minutes
— If there is no improvement, give 4 more
separate puffs of blue/grey reliever
about managing these conditions to enable you as above
to continue to enjoy a wide range of activities. (OR give 1 more dose of Bricanyl or Symbicort inhaler.)
Ask your local Asthma Foundation about further
Vaccination recommendations 4 If there is still no improvement call
emergency assistance (DIAL OOO)
information including:
—— Asthma B ­ asic Facts
Vaccination — Say ‘ambulance’ and that someone is —— Asthma M ­ edications and Devices
Recommendation Age
type having an asthma attack You can also ask about community education and
— Keep giving 4 separate puffs every training programs.
For people with severe All 4 minutes until emergency assistance arrives
asthma and COPD ages (OR 1 dose of Bricanyl or Symbicort every 4 minutes — up to Contact your local Asthma Foundation
3 more doses of Symbicort).
Annual 1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462)
All seniors 65+
influenza asthmaaustralia.org.au
Aboriginal and Torres Call emergency assistance immediately (DIAL 000)
Strait Islander people 15+ — If the person is not breathing
— If the person’s asthma suddenly becomes worse, or is not
Pneumococcal Indigenous people 50+ improving
(protects against — If the person is having an asthma attack and a reliever is Translating and
common causes not available
of pneumonia)
All seniors 65+ Interpreting Service
— If you are not sure if it’s asthma
— If the person is known to have Anaphylaxis - follow their
131 450
Further information: immunise.health.gov.au - for the latest Immunise
Australia Program Information Anaphylaxis Action Plan, then give Asthma First Aid.
Blue/grey reliever medication is unlikely to harm, even if the person All Asthma Australia information is endorsed by our Medical and Scientific
does not have asthma Advisory Committee and is consistent with the Australian Asthma Handbook.
Asthma Australia information does not replace professional medical advice.
It is important to know what to do if your People should ask their doctor any questions about diagnosis and treatment.
asthma symptoms worsen. ©Asthma Australia 2014
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons
See your written asthma action plan. If in doubt, Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Australia License.To view
call an ambulance and start Asthma First Aid. Contact your local Asthma Foundation a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/
1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462)
AADLFA2014

licenses/by-nc/3.0/au/ or send a letter toCreative Commons, 444 Castro Street,

AASEN2014
Translating and
Everyone can learn Asthma First Aid. asthmaaustralia.org.au Interpreting Service
Suite 900, Mountain View, California, 94041, USA.
© Asthma Australia 2014 Supported by the Australian Government 131 450 This resource is supported by funding from the Australian Government under
the Asthma Management Program.
Feeling short of breath? Triggers Understanding your level of Medications and devices
Feeling breathless is not a normal part of getting People with asthma often find that certain things can asthma symptom control Make sure you are using your medication
older. set off their asthma symptoms – these are known as properly – ask your doctor, pharmacist or your
triggers. When a person’s asthma is well-controlled by local Asthma Foundation for more advice.
Approximately one in ten Australian adults has
asthma. Asthma can develop for the first time at following a daily management plan, triggers are less Good control Partial control Poor control
any age. On average, in Australia, one person dies likely to set off an asthma flare-up. Some common
of asthma every day. Over 90% of these deaths asthma triggers include: All of: One or two of: Three or more
occur in people aged over 45. Smoking - Being a smoker or breathing other people’s of:
The good news is most people can achieve good smoke makes asthma worse. It can also mean your
asthma medications won’t work as well as they could. Able to do Less able to Less able to
control of asthma symptoms and live well with
all your usual do your usual do your usual
asthma, by following a daily management plan. Colds and flu - Viruses, like colds and flu, are the most activities activities activities
common triggers for people with asthma. Speak to
Could it be asthma? your doctor about vaccinations (e.g. influenza) and No asthma Any asthma Any asthma
Do you ever: how they can be part of your plan to keep well. Wash symptoms symptoms during symptoms during
—Get breathless or wheezy? your hands if you are near someone with a cold or flu. during night or night or on night or on
on waking waking waking
—Wake up coughing or wheezing? Exercise and activity - Exercise can be an asthma
trigger. Having good control of asthma symptoms Daytime Daytime Daytime
—Struggle to keep up with your normal activity? allows people to live active healthy lives. Speak to symptoms no symptoms more symptoms more Ask your doctor or pharmacist to
If you have any of these symptoms, it is important your doctor and plan to manage your asthma while more than 2 days than 2 days per than 2 days per
to see your doctor. Tell your doctor what symptoms carrying out your usual activities, including exercise to —show you how to use your asthma inhalers
per week week week
you have, how often you have them and if they keep you fit and well. and devices
stop you doing the things you enjoy. Ask about a Medications - Certain medications can trigger asthma Need reliever no Need reliever Need reliever —check that you are able to do it correctly with
lung health check. in some people. These can include prescription and more than 2 days more than 2 days more than 2 days regular reviews.
per week* per week* per week*
non-prescription medications and complementary Up to 90% of people do not use their asthma
What is asthma? therapies. (*Not including reliever puffer taken before exercise.) medication devices correctly.
Asthma is a long-term lung condition that can be —
 Always tell your doctor/pharmacist that you have Using your asthma medication properly will help
controlled, but cannot currently be cured. People asthma you breathe better!
with asthma have sensitive, inflamed airways that
— Always check with your doctor/pharmacist before you
are more likely to react to triggers.
change or stop any medication Written asthma action plans
When asthma flares-up, the muscles around the It is important to have an up to date written
Some medications that can trigger asthma asthma action plan. It will cover what
airways squeeze tight, the airways swell and there is
more mucus. This makes it harder to breathe. Type of Commonly used for the medications you need to take for your asthma,
medication following conditions and what to do if asthma symptoms worsen.
Asthma symptoms include breathlessness, wheeze, Ask your doctor to provide you with one.
cough or a tight chest. Symptoms may occur day or Beta blockers High blood pressure and angina.
night and can vary over time. Some eye drops for glaucoma. Regular review
Plan to see your doctor at least twice a year to
Asthma affects people of all ages. Non-steroidal Common pain relievers such as discuss your asthma. If you are using your blue/
anti- aspirin, ibuprofen; medications for grey reliever puffer more than two days per
inflammatory arthritis or joint pain. week, see your doctor as soon as possible.
(NSAIDs)