Many famous Sporting personalities around the world suffer from Asthma. These include Stephanie Rice (Swimming), Grant Hacket (Swimming), Emma Snowsil (Triathlon) , Misty Hymen (Track&Field), Alan border (Cricket), Ben Cousins (AFL)… to name just a few!
Want to see some more? - there is a HUGE list of Sporting champions, along with Entertainers and Historical Figures that we have compiled here.
All Asthmatics are required to carry thier reliever medication with them at all times. It needs to be within reach at the onset of symptoms and easy to quickly use.
The Sports-haler is a patented device which dramatically improves upon a standard reliever inhaler (Asthma puffer) as used by over 2.2 million Australians and 50+ million asthmatics worldwide. Through the use of a unique retractable mouthpiece and sealed body the Sports-haler offers a safer, more portable and hygienic solution to the standard device.
The Sports-haler’s sealed body and retractable twist-action mouthpiece significantly reduce the ingress of foreign matter. By removing the likelihood of foreign matter in the inhalation pathway, there is a significantly increased level of safety for the user. This reduces the chance of exacerbating or adding complication to an Asthma attack, and the associated health care costs. The improved level of hygiene also eliminates the practice of ‘clearing’ the device before each use, reducing drug wastage and improving overall efficiency to the user.
The retractable mouthpiece mechanism and slimline design makes the Sports-haler more compact and convenient to carry during every day and active pursuits, with increased portability being enhanced by the inclusion of an attachment point and various accessories.
An estimated 380 asthma related deaths occur annually. A key element in the prevention of these deaths promoted by Asthma Foundations Australia, is that a reliever puffer be carried at all times. Compliance to this recommendation is increased through the features and benefits of the Sports-haler.
Sports-haler is available in 6 different colours and has a unique form that is deliberately removed from the stigmatised medical device aesthetic. The Sports-haler becomes a choice rather than a requirement, offering a sense of ownership over embarrassment. This along with the increased portability further promotes compliance amongst children and adults alike, and affords the user and caregivers a greater sense of freedom and confidence.
To use the Sports-haler, either a Ventolin®* or Asmol®* canister is inserted into the device. When medication is needed, the mouthpiece is extended by rotation of the end cap and the device is used as per the standard puffer. The Sports-haler incorporates concave ends which assist in gripping during operation, and a smooth twist action for extension and retraction of the mouthpiece.
The Sports-haler is a class one medical device and as such has been independently lab tested to ensure the equivalence of drug delivery. The Sports-haler has undergone extensive performance and materials testing as part of the design development process. Additionally, as part of the manufacturing process, each and every device is tested under a detailed quality control plan.
Asthma inhalers are a true life saving innovation. Asthmatics always have their asthma inhalers ready as they are an integral part of the management process.
A metered dose asthma inhaler is commonly used. It is used by millions of patients of all ages around the world and gives them a much needed safety net. Other devices include a powder emitting type that is distributed as a mist when inhaled with a nebulizer.
How Asthma Inhalers Work
Asthma inhalers have been in use for over a century. Its main function has not changed greatly, but there have been many improvements over the years. The compound used in inhalers known as CFC has only recently been switched to halo carbons; this delivers a greater potency and rate of absorption.
Because the bronchial tubular muscles constrict during an asthma attack, it becomes difficult to breathe. Bronchodilators relax muscles in the airway, which allow the person to breathe with less difficulty. Athletes who suffer from asthma tend to use their asthma inhalers before and after games. Just recently, a star player was seen using an asthma inhaler during an Aussie Rules play-off game. Asthma does not need to control your quality of life, the fact that he could play at an elite level proves that. The Sports Haler helps with sports as it gives asthmatics a more portable option for there asthma inhaler.
Education is the key for asthma sufferers to control asthma and there are numerous things that you can try to help relieve your symptoms and even to help stave off future attacks. Follow these tips to live a better life with asthma:
Exercise regularly
It is always a good idea to stay in shape, especially if you have asthma; although there is the possibility that exercise may bring on an attack. A person with asthma should try aerobic exercises, such as swimming or walking; however, you should consult with your doctor before beginning any exercise program. Before starting your workout, make sure you are warmed up with light exercise, and always remember to take your medication prior to exercising.
Make your position clear
A nurse or a physical therapist can very easily teach a technique called postural drainage, sometimes called gravity drainage. There are as many as nine different positions that can help clear your lungs of mucus. Consider consulting a professional today to take advantage of this!
Learn to relax and control your emotions
Life’s challenges can be even more difficult for the anxious asthmatic. Strong emotions will not cause asthma, but can provoke attacks and make it worse. Yoga, meditation or other relaxation techniques can help you develop a more positive attitude, which in turn will help you stay cool, calm and collected. Asthmatics can greatly benefit from the breathing exercises commonly used by these techniques.
Following these tips may help asthma sufferers control asthma and relieve symptoms.
Today there are many children with Asthma. Asthma is a lung illness which causes difficulty in breathing. An asthma attack occurs when the lungs do not get enough air for the person to breathe. Asthma triggers than can be found around the home include dust mites, second hand smoke, bug infestations, mould, dirty carpet, plush animals, and animal fur. Vigorous exercise, air pollution, and some foods and respiratory tract infections can also be contributing factors. When a child cannot breathe easily, thereby providing oxygen to the lungs, the disease can become fatal.
Although asthma has no cure a child can remain healthy and vital if both the child and parents work together to follow precautions.
Have a discussion with your doctor about your fears relating to asthma attacks. Your doctor can discuss household asthma triggers with you and help to develop a plan to reduce or eliminate them. Keep a record of all the medications which your child needs in case he has an asthma attack.
Early signs of childhood asthma can include: wheezing when inhaling, easily tiring while playing, taking short breaths, a disturbed sleep pattern, persistent coughing, and complaints about chest pain.
Asthma and allergies are intimately related. The incidence of asthma in children is higher when they also suffer from allergies. Allergic Asthma is the most widespread among children and can be deadly if left untreated.
Children with asthma can sometimes cause increased absences at school. Poor school performance and lower self-esteem may also be seen in children with asthma.
It’s hard to tell who will develop asthma. Children who have low levels of immunity have an increased risk of developing it.
It is the parents’ responsibility to ensure that the child’s asthma does not get in the way of childhood and everything that comes with it. Do not treat your child any differently. They need to be treated as a normal and healthy child. Children should be encouraged to express their feelings and anxieties about asthma freely. This is crucial to keeping a child’s illness under control. As parents, it can be quite a difficult challenge to deal with asthma in your child. The Sports Haler can help parents ensure that children with asthma still have a normal and healthy childhood.
A lot of research went into developing the Sports Haler we talked to a lot of asthmatic people in all age ranges. When we interviewed asthma inhaler users and they all complained about the color, losing the caps as well as getting foreign bodies in the mouthpiece. The Sport Haler comes in different colors to make it more personal for asthma patients. Included in the product range are Sports Haler holders and lanyards. The silicone cover is an important feature so that you can be active in water sports. Sports Haler has come up with an answer to all these asthmatics needs.
We also did some clinical testing of this product. Since it is a product only and not the medication for the asthma, these fit most standard dose asthma inhalers. Just pop one in and off you go. We have received approval from the Asthma Foundation in Australia and the Government has given us TGA compliance. We have so far had some great feedback from asthmatic people in particular mothers with asthmatic children who have tried the Sports Haler.
We believe that the Sports Haler will be really good for children with asthma. We were overwhelmed with the positive response that we got form the asthma educators when we displayed the Sports Haler at the Australian Asthma and Respiratory Education Association Conference last year in 2007 not long after it was developed. They have been spending a lot of time in schools and hospitals educating people in particular children with asthma and believe that the Sports Haler is a very positive lifestyle product. Although they are not a sales force, and they are not trying to sell anything, we believe that the Sports Haler can help them break down the barriers and the stigma to asthma in particular with children. The asthma educators thought it was nice, bright and colorful; hence it was something that they were happy to talk about when educating children with asthma.
The Sports Haler is designed to help asthmatics stay active. Like a mobile phone, you can choose your color and change the clips and holder covers. There is a holder in development that should be out in the market within a few months that allows more of a sports function. So, there are pouches that you can wear on a belt or on an arm band, or on a bike. There is also a lanyard that you can clip onto the holder or sew on the sports unit itself if you wanted to wear it around your neck. There is even a waterproof silicon cover that would enable you to take your asthma inhaler into water sports environment and keep it sealed. This is intended for surfers and surf lifesavers. The new products are designed at keeping asthmatics active.
It occurred to us that all asthma inhalers are the same. There are around fourteen (14) generic manufacturers in the world for these asthma inhalers and they all have the pale gray blue holder for the medication canister. The current canister holder has open ends that dusts can easily get into especially when kids lose the lid as they often do. Thus, we saw the opportunity to update the asthma inhaler and give the asthmatics a little bit of personal choice and portability. It increases safety and hygiene from the fact that the mouthpiece retracts and seals to stop the ingress of dirt and dust. It is great for parents who have kids with compliance issues as it is always difficult for parents to get kids to carry their asthma inhaler with them. Carrying an asthma inhaler can make kids uncomfortable due the social stigma elements that are involved. By giving them a choice of colors and making the mouthpiece retractable with a range of holders, it has just made the asthma inhaler product more appealing and increases portability.
Listen to David Wharton, founder of the Sports Haler, explain the Sports Haler
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