Asthma is a long-term, inflammatory condition of the airways, with episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. It results from airway hyperresponsiveness and persistent inflammation, triggered by allergens, environmental irritants, respiratory infections, and or physical exertion.
In Australia, asthma is common and affects about one in nine people. In 2021–22, there were over 56,000 emergency department visits and 25,500 hospital admissions for asthma. Older women, particularly those over 75 years, are at the highest risk of severe complications, including death.
The aims of asthma management are to achieve effective symptom control, minimise the likelihood of exacerbations, and prevent chronic complications.
Optimal asthma care involves pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas eu odio in nibh placerat tempor ac vel mauris. Nunc efficitur sapien at nisl semper dapibus. Nullam tempor eros sed dui aliquam lacinia. Nunc feugiat facilisis ex.
Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia curae; Maecenas mauris nibh, tempus sit amet erat vel, pellentesque maximus ipsum. Suspendisse dui nunc, porta ac ultricies id, sodales eu ante.
The Medcast medical education team is a group of highly experienced, practicing GPs, health professionals and medical writers.
Become a member and get unlimited access to 100s of hours of premium education.
Learn moreMeasles is no longer considered endemic in Australia but we continue to see new cases brought in by travellers from overseas. This FastTrack fact sheet is a concise summary of measles in general practice, from diagnosis to management, including immunisation and post-exposure prophylaxis. 30mins each of RP and EA CPD available with the quiz.
The incidence of eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) is increasing among Australians. This fact sheet covers the risk factors and associations, diagnosis, and management strategies for EoE, equipping GPs to monitor symptoms and support treatment adherence. 30mins each of RP and EA CPD available with the quiz.
Read this blog to help you recognise and manage post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Australian veteran patients. PTSD is one of the most common mental health conditions in Australian veterans. You will read about common symptoms, screening tools, evidence-based treatments, and referral pathways, with links to trusted resources including Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). It also introduces CPD-accredited training through Medcast’s Veterans Healthcare eLearning Platform (VETs HeLP).