"Effective asthma control with the right treatment can help you
achieve your `Personal Best'"
September 29, Vienna: Cathy Freeman, Olympic gold medallist, said
today, "Asthma can be very frightening, and sometimes even life
threatening. Millions of people the world over suffer from asthma but
with the right medication you can still achieve your ultimate dreams
as I did."
"Asthma varies from person to person and day to day but these days
there is no need to miss out on your personal goals. With effective
new treatments it is possible to keep your asthma symptoms, however
frequent or severe, under control, enabling you to achieve your
personal best." continued Cathy, speaking at a press conference
sponsored by AstraZeneca at the European Respiratory Society (ERS)
annual congress in Vienna.
"Asthma comes and goes, it is not the same all the time and can be
triggered by many different things such as dust, cold air or
exercise." says Cathy. "My asthma is exercise-induced and triggered
by hard physical training. One treatment, that allows asthma
sufferers to adjust the number of inhalations to match the variations
in their asthma, is a fantastic idea as people can achieve effective
control of their asthma with the right amount of drug from just one
inhaler."
"I strongly urge all asthma patients, in consultation with their
doctor, to find the best treatment to suit their symptoms," she
said. "Don't let asthma stop you fulfilling your dreams, whatever
they may be."
Asthma has not only affected Cathy as a sufferer but she has also
personally felt the impact asthma can have on relatives and friends.
She says, "I dedicated my running career to my elder sister after she
died following an asthma attack. She became my main inspiration and
now I want to give my contribution to a better public understanding
of the disease."
"All too often asthma is not recognised as the serious illness that
it can be. It is one of the most common illnesses in the world,
especially among children, and I felt it was time to raise awareness
of asthma, help people to better understand the characteristics,
symptoms and triggers, and make people realise how the correct
treatment can mean a healthy and fulfilling life."
