asthma

The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation’s message that about 1 in 4 Kiwi kids has asthma translates into about 22 000 Waikato kids under 15 living with the illness, says Foundation Executive Director, Jane Patterson.

Balloon Day 2009 – the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation’s awareness and fundraising campaign for childhood asthma research – was formally launched in Christchurch yesterday.

Asthma symptoms are found in one in five young New Zealand European children, a quarter of Pacific Island children and nearly a third of Mäori, results of an international survey has found.

Champion runner Alice Mason has come out in support of asthma awareness.

Synthetic bedding contains higher levels of fungal cell products than feather bedding, which may have a negative effect on asthmatics with respiratory problems according to a recent study by researchers at the University of Otago, Wellington.

Young gun Labour MP Jacinda Ardern has voiced her support for the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation’s Balloon Day campaign.

Kiwis with long-term illnesses such as asthma and COPD have only a few days left to get vaccinated against influenza for free, says the Executive Director of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation, Jane Patterson.

The people of the Waitaha community in Te Puke used to see an ambulance passing through the village two or three times a week, but a new focus on healthy living for the whole community has greatly reduced the need for ambulances.

The Paediatric Society is backing the Space to Breathe campaign, which is launched by PHARMAC in Taranaki today.

People with respiratory illnesses such as asthma and emphysema are strongly advised to take a few simple steps to reduce their chances of contracting swine flu or becoming very ill if they do contract it, says the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation.

More New Zealanders have received seasonal influenza immunisation this year than ever before.

The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation strongly supports PHARMAC’s Space to Breathe campaign, being launched today in Taranaki.

Tariana Turia today spoke of the affects of her asthma on her family and came out in support of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation’s Balloon Day campaign.

‘Asthma has challenged us as a whanau for over a decade now,’ the Minister responsible for Māori health says.

Balloon Day is the Foundation’s annual awareness and fundraising campaign, which this year centres on an events day—Balloon Day on Saturday 9 May – during Asthma Awareness Week, 4 to 10 May, 2009. Money raised through Balloon Day goes towards childhood asthma research.

About 1 in 4 Kiwi kids has asthma and the illness is the leading reason for Kiwi kids and young people being hospitalised. Māori asthma statistics are particularly alarming. For example, from 2003 to 2005, the leading cause of public hospital admissions among children aged 1 to 4 was respiratory disease. Admissions for asthma among this group were 60 percent higher for Māori than non-Māori.