Asthma Auckland is here for you this winter

Asthma Auckland is here for you this winter

It’s winter, and we all know what that means: colds, flus and general sickness. But for the over 20% of New Zealanders – including 25% of Kiwi kids – who have asthma, this can have a much more drastic effect than a desire to stay in bed all day.

This was certainly the case for four-year-old Albany resident Muhammad Moharam. “Every time he had a cold or runny nose, he was always breathless,” Muhammad’s dad, Ahmed, recalls. “He was also hospitalised several times over the past year.”

Luckily for Muhammad, Janet Delooze, Asthma Nurse Educator at Asthma Auckland, was on the case. Asthma Auckland provides free advice, information and products to families affected by asthma. They offer simple, effective strategies to help manage asthma, and work alongside GPs to educate and support local communities toward better health outcomes, helping to prevent long-term damage and illnesses like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which can arise as a result of uncontrolled asthma symptoms.

Asthmatic himself, Ahmed was familiar with Asthma Auckland, who provided him with Miteguard mattress covers and pillows, which helped to protect him from dust mites and therefore control of his asthma. He’d always had “good experiences,” with Asthma Auckland, and was put in touch with Janet after the hospital referred Muhammad to their services.

“Janet asked lots of questions about Muhammad and his treatment, and recommended other possible treatments and medication,” Ahmed says. “She also had a look around the house, and suggested changes we could make.”

Since Janet came to their house, Muhammad has not had a single exacerbation of asthma. “When we visit clients, we go over their history, medication, which inhaler they use, and answer questions,” says Janet. “We also go over how their medication works and how to use it correctly and effectively, and develop an ‘asthma action plan’, which helps people know what symptoms to look for, instead of leaving it until they have to be hospitalised. It’s about giving people the knowledge to control their asthma and lead healthy lives.”

Asthma symptoms can be triggered by a number of factors, including cluttered bedrooms, beds positioned by windows – “the coldest parts of the house,” Janet points out – as well as pets and allergies. This was part of Muhammad’s problem; it was discovered he was suffering from hayfever, as well as some previously unknown potential allergies. Asthma Auckland can help identify all of these issues. “It’s all part of asthma management,” Janet says. “You have to identify triggers and manage those too.”

Ahmed and his family are grateful to Janet and Asthma Auckland, and thinks they are an essential service. “You go to your GP when things need immediate attention, but you can go to Asthma Auckland for guidance, support and on-going treatment,” he explains. “They have specialised knowledge, and can offer a lot of advice.”

In fact, Ahmed says he would only change one thing about the otherwise “great” experience - “It would have been better if we’d been referred to Asthma Auckland earlier.”

As Janet points out, though, “People can refer themselves.” So if you, or anyone in your family, have asthma or COPD, it’s worth getting in touch with Asthma Auckland. “Just give us a call,” Janet says. It could make all the difference this winter.

Asthma Auckland can be contacted on (09) 630 2293 or anz@asthma.org.nz. Find out more by visiting www.asthma.org.nz

ENDS

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