Respiratory News

CHILD RESOURCES CHILD RESOURCES NOW INTERACTIVE NOW INTERACTIVE

The Foundation has released its Child Asthma Action Plans and Child Asthma Symptom Diaries as interactive documents (available in English, Maori, Samoan and Tongan). The plans can now be filled in digitally by health practitioners during an appointment and then emailed to families via Manage My Health to save to their phone or other device for later reference. These digital plans can be saved as a document and easily shared with other family members, school and sports coaches – so that everyone has this important life-saving information. The Foundation has released its Child Asthma Action Plans and Child Asthma Symptom Diaries as interactive documents (available in English, Maori, Samoan and Tongan). The plans can now be filled in digitally by health practitioners during an appointment and then emailed to families via Manage My Health to save to their phone or other device for later reference. The best thing is that digital plans can be saved as a document and easily shared with other family members, school and sports coaches – so that everyone has this important life-saving information.

Pill for hay fever

Australian researchers believe they have developed a pill that could protect people against hay fever and thunderstorm asthma. The ‘pollen pill’ contains tiny amounts of grass pollen and works by reprogramming people’s immune system. Early testing has found the pill had a 92% success rate in reducing symptoms, but more testing is needed. It is expected that the pill will eventually be available as a prescription-only medicine.

Air pollution’s link to lung cancer

Scientists have identified how small particles of pollutants could trigger lung cancer in people who have never smoked. The particles, which are usually found in vehicle exhaust and smoke from fossil fuels, can trigger inflammation in the lungs and cause lung cells with pre-existing mutations to start forming a tumour. While the risk of lung cancer from air pollution is lower than from smoking, the researchers said it is a growing problem as more people are being exposed to unsafe levels of air pollution.

Mānuka honey to help in treating lung infections

A new treatment that combines mānuka honey with a widely used drug, can be used to treat a serious lung infection commonly experienced by people with cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis. Research found that mānuka honey, which has long been known to have antimicrobial activity, can be used to kill a drug-resistant bacterial infection, and greatly reduce the serious side effects of a drug currently used in treatments.

New asthma drug available in NZ for severe asthma

Pharmac is now funding a new asthma drug (benralizumab) for treatment of severe eosinophilic asthma (EA) in New Zealanders aged 12 years and over. In this subtype of asthma, people have too many eosinophils – a type of white blood cell - in the airways of their lungs, which causes inflammation and greatly increases the severity of asthma symptoms. The drug is administered as an injection and will be available to patients who meet specific criteria. Pharmac estimates that about 40 people will benefit in the next year.

Healthy Homes Initiative to go national

New Zealand’s Healthy Home Initiative set up nine years ago, is to be rolled out nation-wide. The initiative was set up to improve living conditions for low-income families with young children and pregnant women. A recent report found that 31,000 children were warmer and healthier thanks to the initiative which has seen new beds, bedding, curtains, heating and in some cases new homes, provided to those in vulnerable communities.

Second-hand smoke a generational risk

Children are more likely to develop asthma if their father was exposed to second-hand smoke as a child, according to new research from the University of Melbourne. The researchers found that the risk of non-allergic asthma in children increased by 59% if their fathers had been exposed to smoking as children. If these men went on to become smokers, then the risk of their children developing asthma increased to 72%. Scientists think this inter- generational damage may be caused by environmental factors, like smoking, interacting and changing genetics.

Why should I use an asthma action plan?

If you have ever been in the situation when your asthma was flaring up, but you’ve forgotten how many puffs of your inhaler you need to take and how often – then you’ll understand why asthma action plans are important.

An asthma action plan is a written or digital record that outlines what to do if your asthma starts to worsen. It is completed by your health practitioner and needs to be reviewed regularly. This is a resource that you can refer to as needed and share with family and friends.

The Foundation has digital and downloadable action plans available on our website.

These are free to use and make a real difference to managing your asthma well, so you are in control when your asthma isn't.