Asthma and health technology

  Asthma is common. It can make you pretty sick and limit your ability to work, exercise or do daily activities. Colds and other lung problems can cause your asthma to worsen rapidly, so it is important to know that your asthma is well controlled and be able to identify when things are going wrong. ​

Background

  A bit of background on asthma. Imagine you have a series of pipes in the lungs that enable air to travel in and out. With asthma, things like dust, pollen, viruses or exercise can make those pipes become narrow, preventing as much air from travelling in and out. You will then develop symptoms of shortness of breath, wheezing or a cough. As you can imagine a severe attack can make you very unwell, as you cannot breathe. 

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Emergencies

  When diagnosed with a long term health condition, it is important to know what to do in the worst case scenario. How to recognise a problem, how to act and when to call for help. It is vital that you learn this or be able to access the necessary information quickly. Downloading the Australian Red Cross First Aid app on your phone will give you a resource that you can refer to whenever you need. ​ (Remember if in doubt, call the emergency services).

Avoiding Triggers Of Your Asthma

  Understanding your environment is important if your asthma is triggered off by pollen or pollutants. Having data that tells you that the air quality is poor may remind you to take your inhaler just in case. Or maybe you should take the train today rather than cycle. An air pollution monitor can provide valuable insights into whether your asthma may be triggered today or not. ​

Tools To Identify If Your Asthma Is Worsening

  Knowing how to identify a problem early before it makes your asthma worsen is vital. You can do this by having the right tools at home that can give you clear information on the health of your lungs or signs of infection. Oxygen monitors, thermometers, digital stethoscopes and blood pressure machines should be part of your new first aid kit. They will give you key information as to whether you need to see a doctor or not. In addition, if you access an online GP, the information these tools provide will enable the doctor to provide a safe and thorough assessment. As a result, you can seek medical advice quickly at a time and place that is convenient to you. 

Our list of favourites is not exhaustive and we encourage you to look at other products on the website and see what else may be of use. What we are aiming to achieve at HealthAide is that you are able to make an informed decision when considering what else can keep you healthy. New products and services are coming out that will help you manage your asthma and access healthcare quickly. As technology develops so will your ability to reduce the impact of any health issue on the quality of your life. 

Blog post written by Dr Khurram Akhter.

Khurram is an experienced primary care physician and a thought leader 
​in the field of digital health.​

Disclaimer: This text does not serve as medical advice and if you have any questions, seek advice from your doctor.

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