Breathe easier

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

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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."