With airway-threatening pollen thunderstorms on the horizon, a Wagga mum is urging asthmatics and parents of children with asthma to ensure they're fully prepared for spring.
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Naomi Richards was thrust into the world of Ventolin puffers and respiratory clinics in 2014, when her eldest daughter Milla was diagnosed with severe and chronic asthma.
Regular flare-ups, hospital visits and a second daughter being diagnosed with asthma has caused the stress to pile on - but the dedicated mum has found a way to make it work.
"It can definitely be really stressful but it is all about being well-prepared and knowing what to do when a flare-up is occurring," Ms Richards said.
"When we notice Milla's asthma is flaring up we usually increase her Ventolin, in line with her asthma action plan that is prepared for her by her GP and paediatrician."
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Ms Richards is imploring all asthmatics in Wagga to make sure they have an action plan in place, so they have a clear outline of what to do in stressful situations.
"Our action plan has been a vital tool for us to ensure we're giving Milla the best chance of controlling her asthma flare-up and it also gives us the knowledge of when to go to emergency or give our GP a call," she said.
The plan has been provided to Milla's school and provides much-needed peace of mind for Ms Richards when she can't look after Milla herself.
Wagga respiratory physician Associate Professor Adriaan Venter said it is crucial the region's asthmatics make their preparations now.
"The problem with September and October, especially in our area, is we have a huge amount of ryegrass pollen," he said.
"This pollen can get sucked up into thunderstorms and then rupture and create a huge cloud of ultra-fine particles which is blown ahead of the thunderstorm and that triggers acute asthma."
Professor Venter said these storms can have a devastating impact and leave hundreds of asthmatics in the hospital if they are not well-prepared.
He urged Wagga's asthmatics to ensure they're doing everything they can to avoid a flare-up, including staying inside with the windows closed during any storms and signing up to Charles Sturt University's thunderstorm asthma alert system.
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