Olympic legend Cathy Freeman is urging Australians to monitor their asthma.
Australia has the highest rate of asthma in the world, affecting more than two million people and claiming 400 lives each year.
Freeman first became aware of her asthma symptoms on a humid day in Darwin during her late teens. “I didn’t realise it was asthma,” she said. “All of a sudden I just found it really hard to breath. I was wheezing. “
“Since I retired from professional athletics, I nearly stopped running altogether because I was just so frustrated with my asthma symptoms.”
Freeman is endorsing a new app that makes monitoring of asthma easier after trialling it.
“I feel so much more confident knowing that just at my fingertips I can measure the percentage of my wheeze. I’m excited because I feel in control.”
She also believes that AirSonea offers parents a “huge peace of mind” because they can easily monitor their child’s wheeze. “If my daughter develops asthma, knowing that I can keep a close eye on her wheeze is really appealing to me as a parent,” she said.
AirSonea is a handheld device that turns a patient’s smartphone into a portable wheeze monitor. The user holds AirSonea against his or her throat to get an objective reading of wheeze, a cardinal sign of asthma associated with airway obstruction. The device is small enough to be used anywhere, anytime. It also provides accurate data to help doctors with patient reviews.
“Regular use of AirSonea during daily activities will help inform people with asthma about whether their wheeze is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable,” says iSonea’s CEO, Michael Thomas.
“It provides objective information about response to treatment, triggers and symptoms. This information will help people become more aware of their symptoms and vigilant about their risks, with the intention of helping them be more attentive to their doctors’ treatment plans.”
Further information on AirSonea app is at www.airsonea.com.au.
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