As many as 400 people attend hospital emergency departments every week in Ireland due to asthma attacks, according to new figures.
In addition, there are at least 50 asthma-related deaths each year, according to data released to coincide with World Asthma Day 2012.
Ireland has the fourth highest prevalence of asthma globally, and the condition affects almost half a million people in the State and an estimated 300 million worldwide.
The Asthma Society of Ireland is marking World Asthma Day with a new campaign to introduce a Asthma Attack card that reminds sufferers what to do when they have an attack.
Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterised by recurrent breathing problems and symptoms such as breathlessness, wheezing, chest tightness and coughing. While Asthma can be controlled in the majority of cases, up to 60 per cent of sufferers in Ireland do not manage their asthma properly.
"Asthma can be well controlled in the majority of people, but the Asthma Society of Ireland gets hundreds of calls every month from patients, concerned parents, schools, sports and community groups seeking advice and support," said Dr Jean Holohan, chief executive of the organisation.
The society says key to keeping asthma under control is knowing how to use inhalers correctly and taking controller medication every day.
The organisation wants to ensure that everyone in the country knows the five steps outlined in the Asthma Attack Card to follow in case of an emergency.
The five step rule outlined on the card are:
1) Take two puffs of reliever inhaler (usually blue) immediately
2) Sit upright and stay calm
3) Take slow steady breaths
4) If there is no improvement take one puff of reliever inhaler every minute
- You can take up to 10 puffs in ten minutes
- Children under six can take up to six puffs in ten minutes
5) Call 999 or 112 if symptoms do not improve after following steps 1 – 4 or if you are worried.
The Asthma Attack Card can be downloaded at www.asthmasociety.ie or by calling 1850 445464.
World Asthma Day is organised by the Global Initiative for Asthma. The first World Asthma Day was held in 1998.