One in three Australians suffer from poor quality sleep. New research suggests sleep deprivation is costing the Australian economy more than $5.1 billion a year in both direct and indirect costs.
Many people with asthma have sensitivities to certain drugs that can precipitate an asthma attack. If you have asthma, you need to be aware of which medications may be triggers. You do not need to avoid these medications unless you know they are asthma triggers for you. If these medications have never triggered your asthma, it is still best to take the medications with caution because a reaction can occur at any time.
1 in 2 Australians will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85, with more than 60% of cancer patients surviving more than five years after diagnosis.According to a recent US study the hidden psychological scars caused by the diagnosis of cancer can leave scaring akin to that inflicted by war, with the impact in some cases lasting for years.Do I Have A Breathing Disorder?
The Lung Health Checklist*
This questionnaire comes from the Australian Lung Foundation and will help you to determine whether your lung health could be at risk.
If you answer Yes or No to any of the questions below you should seriously consider talking to your doctor:
Do you:
| Have a new, persistent or changed cough? | Yes/No |
| Cough up mucus, phlegm or blood? | Yes/No |
| Experience chest tightness or wheeze? | Yes/No |
| Get out of breath more easily than others your age? | Yes/No |
| Have frequent chest infections? | Yes/No |
| Experience chest pain, fatigue or sudden weight loss? | Yes/No |
Answering Yes to any of the above could be a sign your lung health could be at risk...particularly if you:
Are a smoker or ex-smoker, or you have worked in a job that exposed you to dust, gas or fumes.
If you believe you are at risk of a respiratory disorder, take the responses from this questionnaire to your doctor as it will assist you in starting the conversation with them.
*This Lung Health Checklist has been designed by The Australian Lung Foundation to assist the community in monitoring their lung health. It is intended to be used as a guide only and is not an authoritative statement. Please consult your doctor for medical opinion or advice.
Breathlessness Assessment Questionnaire
Think of how you feel today compared to 6-12 months ago. Do you get breathless (or feel more breathless), feel faint or dizzy performing ordinary daily activities such as:
| Making the bed | Yes | No |
| Having a shower | Yes | No |
| Doing the washing and hanging it out | Yes | No |
| Walking to the corner store or around the supermarket | Yes | No |
| Climbing a flight of stairs | Yes | No |
| Walking up a gentle incline | Yes | No |
| In bed or while lying down | Yes | No |
| In the last 6-12 months, have you avoided any activities because they make you short of breath (or have you changed the way you do an activity because it makes you short of breath)? | Yes | No |
| In the last 6-12 months, have any of your friends or family commented that you seem out of breath or do things at a slower place? | Yes | No |