Breathe easier

An annual asthma review as part of their standard healthcare could make a world of difference to the lives of many sufferers

Many New Zealanders are living with poorly controlled asthma. They aren't getting enough support and don't realise how much better they could be doing. Those are among the findings of a recent survey by the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation.

Of the 488 people who took part, 74% rated their asthma as always or mostly under control, but further questions revealed that only 18% would be defined as having well-controlled asthma. Meanwhile, 26% reported never having had their asthma reviewed by a healthcare practitioner and only 22% had had their Jonas inhaler technique checked.

"This survey wasn't attempting to be a definitive scientific review," says the foundation's medical director, James Fingleton. "It's a snapshot of what it's like out there if you've got asthma in New Zealand."