Encouraging WA teenage asthma sufferers to learn more about their disease

6/10/96

Health Minister Kevin Prince today encouraged Western Australia's teenage asthma sufferers to learn more about their disease and lead a normal, healthy life.

"Asthma is an area of special concern in the health field but it is a condition that can be effectively controlled," Mr Prince said.

"I would encourage all teenage sufferers to learn more about their disease, what their personal triggers are so they can try to avoid them and take their medication properly.

"Fifteen per cent of this State's teenagers suffer from asthma and while many worry about having a severe asthma attack, many do not have a proper plan to control their asthma."

Mr Prince today launched Asthma Week 1996, which focuses on teenage asthma sufferers.

He expressed concern that almost half WA's teenage asthma sufferers were placing themselves at risk of a serious, life-threatening attack by not properly managing their illness.

"Research shows many of the 40 to 50 asthma-related deaths which occur in this State each year can be attributed to poor management of the disease by patients," he said.

Mr Prince said asthma was responsible for more hospitalisations of Western Australians each year than any other medical condition.

It also caused more absenteeism from work and school than any other illness.

"Research has also shown that there are many barriers to medicinal compliance among teenagers," the Minister said.

"Teenagers with asthma feel different from their peers because, in part, they feel asthma limits their participation in sports and hobbies and they lack confidence in the ability of people to help them if they have an attack."

Mr Prince said statistics also showed that teenagers with asthma:

+ were more likely to smoke than teenagers without asthma;

+ often did not comply with their medication; and -

+ often failed to recognise the severity of their illness or symptoms.

Mr Prince said the Asthma Foundation of WA had significantly raised the understanding and management of asthma in the community.

"Asthma Week will further help raise community awareness on both the condition and the work of the foundation in its role of enhancing the lives of countless asthma sufferers in this State," he said.

Media contact: Kirsten Stoney 366 0300