Asthma

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Correct MDI and spacer technique

Alyssia explains correct MDI and spacer technique with her little superstar Iyla-Jay helping her....

The difference between internal and external walls

Alyssia explain the difference between internal and external walls in a bedroom and the best position for your child’s bed....

A Different Inhaler?

Sheryl talks about how sometimes when you pick up your script, it may look like it’s a different inhaler – but sometimes it’s the same medicine in different packaging....

Why too much reliever is not a good thing

Sheryl explains the analogy we use at Asthma Waikato to help people understand the limitations of reliever inhalers....

Remember the preventer inhaler

Alyssia gives a couple of good ideas for remembering the preventer inhaler...

Colouring Competition 2020

World Asthma Day - May 5th. Colour me in to WIN!...

Correct puffer and spacer techniques

Our little Asthma STAR Iyla-Jay joins Alyssia to demonstrate correct technique using an MDI (puffer) and spacer....

How to wash your spacer

Alyssia gives us a quick demo on how to wash your spacer correctly....

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Over the years asthma treatments have changed and evolved. Back in the day would you believe that smoking was actually encouraged as a treatment for asthma? Now we know a lot better! And who remembers the spinhaler, the diskhaler and spacers the size of rugby balls? One person I was speaking to recently recalls his experience with the now discontinued devices: “You had to slide the white part out completely and load with the disc then set it to ‘1’ (don’t know why as ...

Controlled Asthma

If you are needing to use your reliever inhaler more than twice a week, this can be a red flag that your asthma is not well controlled. However, there can be a lot of reasons why asthma is not behaving itself, and this video explores some of those reasons. A full assessment is required to ascertain what is needed so do check in with us or see your GP for more advice....

Alyssia – new Asthma Educator

Alyssia remembers asthma being a real burden on some of her family members when she was growing up, and looking back she feels if they have received the right information, support and education about asthma when they needed it, they may not have struggled as much as they did.She is looking forward to bringing that kind of help to families in the Waikato to ensure others don’t have to struggle like her family did. With her background in Occupational Therapy, Alyssia brings a unique outlook on a...

How stuff works – inside an accuhaler

The accuhaler is a clever little device that delivers dry powder medicine into your lungs when you inhale on it. Unlike the ‘puffer’ it doesn’t require a spacer as it is breath activated. We have taken one apart to show you how the mechanism inside works. Have a watch of this video....

Noah and Noah

Awesome story from Noah's Mum - we are so glad we could be of help: "Our family are so grateful for the help we received from Asthma Waikato for our 4 year old Son Noah. Prior to having help we had constant issues with poor Noah's coughing, sleeping disruptions, and him generally being miserable. We were using the spacer completely wrong and he was not receiving any of the inhalers. Now we have nailed it and he is much happier! Thanks to Asthma Waikato." From Brydie, Samuel and Noah Donaldson....

Bronchiolitis or Asthma

Bronchiolitis: What is it?Bronchiolitis is a chest infection caused by a virus, which affects the small airways of the lungs. Who does it affect?85% of cases in NZ affect babies under 12 months. What are the symptoms? Cough is the main symptomWheezeRunny noseIncreased work of breathing How does it differ asthma? When the doctor listens to the child’s chest with a stethoscope, he/she is able to tell by what they can hear, whether it is more likely asthma or bronchiolitis, eg. the presence or ab...

The Prescription Subsidy Scheme

All prescriptions you collect between the dates of 1 Feb to 31 Jan every year are counted. When you reach the 20 threshold, you no longer have to pay for further prescriptions. You can even get your partner's and children's scripts to count towards this total too! (children aged 14-18, as under 13 are free anyway so they don't count). You can find out more here. Talk to your pharmacist about it too: https://www.health.govt.nz/…/me…/prescription-subsidy-scheme...

Coughing Much?

A cough can be one of the symptoms of asthma. And kids with asthma can often get a cough at night. But sometimes a cough can be caused by something else. Sometimes kids have coughed for so long the family can often get used to it and accept it as ‘normal’ for that child. We often hear 'yes, he/she cough, that's just them'. The thing to remember is that it isn’t ‘normal’ for a child to cough consistently, during the day or at night. The question has to be asked, what is causing the coug...

Meet Melenaite!

Wow, she is experiencing great relief from her asthma symptoms since she has been regularly taking her preventer morning and night every day. Melenaite and her brother were so excited to get a bag of goodies and a stamp saying ASTHMA STAR. S.T.A.R - stands for "Spacer' "Technique and Triggers" "Action plan" "Rinse and spit or Reliever"....

The low down on what to expect when you take your child to the Emergency Department

We get a lot of parents who hesitate to take their child to the Emergency Department with asthma because they feel when they get there, the child is just given more reliever with the spacer, there’s just a whole lot of waiting and nothing is actually ‘done’. I have to admit, until I understood the process, I thought this too. It’s important for children having asthma flare-ups to receive timely care, so I hope that explaining the process will help a little for others. Here goes. Asthma m...

Nose Spray

DID YOU KNOW you're not supposed to snort your nasal spray, nor aim it directly upwards?  Most people using a nasal spray are using it incorrectly - they aim the nozzle straight upwards then squirt and snort. This results in the medicine simply dripping down the back of your throat and giving you a nasty taste in your mouth as well as a fizzy feeling head. You should be pointing the nozzle towards your ear on the same side, and the idea is to coat the inside of your nostril membrane, not sq...

Monalisa

Meet Monalisa! Monalisa has had such trouble with her asthma in the past and has been so very sick, so many times. However, since she has been taking her preventer morning and night every day, over the last few months, her whole world has changed. She has been completely well for months now and has not had to use her reliever at all. Well done Monalisa and family - we are really proud of you and really happy that you are doing so much better....

Spirometry Course - 29th and 30th Aug 2019

Our seriously in demand Spirometry Course is back on for another run. Get in touch NOW if you want a place on this course. It is already being booked out! Designed and run by a Clinical Physiologist, it's a must have in your arsenal of courses....

Spirometry Course - 25th and 26th Jul 2019

Our seriously in demand Spirometry Course is back on for another run. Get in touch NOW if you want a place on this course. It is already being booked out! Designed and run by a Clinical Physiologist, it's a must have in your arsenal of courses....

Spirometry Course - 4th and 5th Jul 2019

Our seriously in demand Spirometry Course is back on for another run. Get in touch NOW if you want a place on this course. It is already being booked out! Designed and run by a Clinical Physiologist, it's a must have in your arsenal of courses....

Spirometry Course - 13th and 14th Feb 2019

Our seriously in demand Spirometry Course is back on for another run. Get in touch NOW if you want a place on this course. It is already being booked out! Designed and run by a Clinical Physiologist, it's a must have in your arsenal of courses....

Spirometry Course - 5th and 6th Dec 2018

Our seriously in demand Spirometry Course is back on for another run. Get in touch NOW if you want a place on this course. It is already being booked out! Designed and run by a Clinical Physiologist, it's a must have in your arsenal of courses....