May 2008 - July 2008

Snapshots

* World Asthma Day is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to improve asthma awareness and care around the world. World Asthma Day 2008 will take place on Tuesday, May 6, 2008. The theme of this year's event will be "You Can Control Your Asthma" . See below

* Check out the latest Best Practice Information Sheet Smoking cessation interventions and strategies on the Joanna Briggs website. The website is a great resource and even if you are not a member there are resources you can still access, such as the evidence based information sheets - www.joannabriggs.edu.au

* The Rural Health Education Foundation programs for May - July 2008 includes:-

• Balancing the Benefits: Asthma and Combination Therapy Update
• Striking Back: Intervention, Treatment and Management of Stroke
  

For full details visit the website.

* The 9th edition of the Australian Immunisation Handbook is now available. It provides clinical guidelines for health professionals on the safest and most effective use of vaccines in their practice, as well as information on new vaccines and vaccine preventable diseases in Australia.

The publication is available online at the Australian Immunisation Handbook website, and may be ordered through the Immunise Australia Program publications page.

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  World Asthma Day is May 6, 2008

Got asthma? You need a plan!

Tuesday, May 6, 2008, is World Asthma Day and the National Asthma Council Australia is urging the two million plus Australians with asthma to prepare, or update, their asthma action plans.

According to National Asthma Council Australia chairman, Professor John Wilson, asthma prevalence in this country is relatively high but we can minimise its impact through greater awareness and understanding.

“The theme of World Asthma Day this year is ‘you can control your asthma’ and, the best way to control asthma is to have an up-to-date written asthma action plan,” Prof Wilson said.

These written instructions help people with asthma, as well as their family, carers and neighbours, recognise how to tell if asthma symptoms are getting worse, and what action to take.

“Research shows that written action plans keep people with asthma in control of their condition. They are better equipped to recognise deterioration of their symptoms and can respond appropriately,” Prof Wilson said.

Unfortunately, many Australians with asthma do not have a written asthma action plan, despite evidence that shows that asthma self-management programs that involve a written action plan have a greater reduction in hospitalisation than those that do not.1
“People who have a written action plan have better controlled asthma, fewer asthma symptoms and fewer days off work or school because of asthma.

“In the same way that daylight savings signals the time to change your smoke alarm battery, World Asthma Day is the time to make a resolution to consult your GP and prepare a written plan, or if you already have a plan, make sure it is up-to-date,” Prof Wilson urged.

Poorly managed asthma can be fatal. According to the latest statistics, 402 Australians died from asthma in 2006.
“There is no cure for asthma, but asthma deaths are preventable - we just need to continue to take it seriously.”

Sample asthma action plans can be downloaded from the National Asthma Council Australia website: www.nationalasthma.org.au/html/management/action_plans/ap005.asp

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Managing acute asthma in adults

An extract from the Asthma Management Handbook which can be downloaded from the National Asthma Council's website (it is a large file 1.10 mb).

Managing acute asthma in children

An extract from the Asthma Management Handbook which can be downloaded from the National Asthma Council's website (it is a large file 1.10 mb).

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    Autumn Mite Trigger Asthma

As the leaves fall, the dust mite population in your bedroom could well be on the rise. Research from Sydney’s Woolcock Institute of Medical Research shows that dust mite levels can increase 2-3 fold during late autumn, compared with summer levels.1

According to National Asthma Council Australia director, Dr Janet Rimmer, a respiratory physician and allergist, that’s bad news for the vast numbers of Aussies with dust-mite triggered allergy or asthma.

She said: “Around 45 per cent of the population have an allergy and of those people,almost 80 per cent react to dust mites.

“Dust mites are the most common trigger for asthma in Australia and the bedroom isthe site of the greatest exposure.”

House dust mites are microscopic creatures that feed off human skin scales.They are mostly found in the home and live in soft furnishings such as beds, bedding, carpets, upholstered furniture, soft toys and clothing.

Dust mites thrive in temperate and humid climates and the research indicates a link between the change of weather and the dust mite population explosion, which appears to occur approximately two months after a damp, humid Autumnal spell.

For people with dust mite triggered allergy or asthma, Dr Rimmer recommends a number of dust mite avoidance measures, which may take time, but are potentially helpful.

Typical control measures include washing sheets and pillow cases weekly in water hotter than 55oC; covering mattress, pillow and quilt with dust mite resistant covers, which must be washed every two months; removing soft toys or hot washing them weekly or freezing them overnight; dusting hard floors and surfaces with a damp or electrostatic cloth; and, cleaning carpets weekly using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter.

“Dust mites and the allergen they leave behind are extremely hard to eliminate, but people who are strenuously motivated to remove the allergen from their homes do say that it makes a difference,” Dr Rimmer said.

“It’s important to remember that dust mite allergy is a perennial problem and dust mite control measures need to be adhered to year round – not just in Autumn,” she warned.

Comprehensive dust mite control advice can be found on the National Asthma Council Australia website: www.NationalAsthma.com.au

1 D. Crisafulli, C. Almqvist, G. Marks, E. Tovey (2007) Seasonal trends in house dust mite allergen
in children’s beds over a 7-year period Allergy 62 (12) , 1394–1400

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Influenza vaccine will help protect you and your patients

All nurses should receive an influenza vaccination to help protect themselves, their co-workers and patients, health authorities recommend.

Flu vaccination also reduces the burden on the health system and saves employers money, research shows.

Flu vaccine does help to keep nurses healthy. A study at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital showed a net saving of 2.1 hours sick leave per 1,000 hours worked.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NICS) recommends that health care providers, staff of nursing homes and staff of long-term care facilities (eg developmental disability residentials) be immunised against influenza in order to protect vulnerable groups such as patients and elderly residents.

Know who is at risk
Recent surveys conducted by NICS confirm confusion amongst health care workers and the community as to who is at risk of influenza and its complications as a major barrier to vaccinations.

To help you overcome these barriers, NICS has developed the 'Fight flu' website. A complete list of people considered 'at risk' of developing complications from influenza is found on the Who is at Risk? page. The contents are based on NICS research and the most authoritative national guide, the Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition, (section 3:9)

Tips To Avoid The Flu

• Wash hands frequently including before eating or touching face, eyes, nose and mouth
• Don't share cups and glasses, cutlery, toothbrushes etc
• Avoid close contact with someone who is sick
• Get a vacination

From the Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition :-

Asthma & diet

Foods that trigger attacks (according to your susceptibility), can be:
- Foods containing the additives benzoates(E210-19), sulphites (E220-8) or gallates (E310-12)Cider, wine and beer
- Foods containing yeast or mould, such as bread and blue cheeses
- Foods, drinks and snacks containing colorings E102, E104 and E110Cow's milk, cereals (wheat), eggs, fish, soy, and nuts (especially peanuts)

At the same time Food can also help to control the severity of an attack. One of the best-known foods for doing this is coffee, due to the caffeine. Some Foods can actually dilate air passageways, by thinning the mucus and opening them up for freer breathing. The foods in this category include the spicy, pungent foods like chili, hot mustard, garlic and onions. These hot foods work by stimulating nerves, resulting in the release of watery fluid in the mouth, throat and lungs.

Thirdly, some foods can control inflammation of the airways because of their anti-inflammatory components. Foods that help to do this include onions (these are particularly good), fatty fish (fish oil is a proven anti-inflammatory high in omega 3 fatty acids) and vitamin C-packed foods.

Serves 6.  

Ingredients

 2 Tbsp oil

 2 medium onion, finely chopped

 2 cloves garlic, crushed

 1 tsp grated fresh ginger

 1 tsp tumeric

 1 tsp ground cumin

 1 tsp curry powder

 ½ cauliflower, cut into florets (650g)

 825g can crushed tomatoes

 1 cup frozen peas

 425g can chickpeas, drained

 ½ cup light coconut milk

 1 tsp salt

3 easy steps 

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan and sauté onion, garlic and ginger until soft. Add spices and sauté a further minute. Fold through cauliflower.    
2. Add tomatoes and bring mixture to the boil, reduce heat and simmer until cauliflower is just tender.    
3. Add peas, chickpeas, coconut milk and season with salt. Heat through and serve with boiled rice.

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