Asian migrants face a higher risk of asthma attack

A Victorian government health report revealed that people of Australian or South Asian origin emigrating to Australia are at greater risk of having asthma attacks and other allergies.

Professor Frank Thien, director of respiratory medicine at the Eastern Health Clinical School of Monash University, was one of the scientists involved in the research.

"People of Asian origin and of Indian origin coming to Australia and emigrating to Australia have an increased risk of allergies, especially hay fever and asthma, and this risk is increasing. with the length of stay in Australia, "said Professor Thien.

Extreme weather events also greatly increased the risk.

Anna Kim Anderson had her first asthma attack during a thunderstorm in Melbourne eight years ago.

"I had difficulty breathing, I felt a little sibilant, I had tight chest and, since I had never had asthma before, I did not understand this that it was, "said Mrs. Anderson.

After this first attack in 2010, Mrs. Anderson suffered another attack during a storm in 2016.

When she arrived at the hospital, she understood that she was not alone.

"I was very poor in oxygen, they took me directly to the USI.There was a whole room filled with Asians and Indians who had suffered the same attack than me."

Nearly 40% of patients who presented to emergencies with asthma symptoms during the 2016 storm were born in East Asia or the Indian subcontinent.

Of the 10 people who died during the disaster, six were of East and South Asian origin.

Analysts still do not know why these groups are more susceptible to allergies, but studies show that even those born in Australia to Asian parents are more likely to develop allergies than people from non-Asian parents.

Research suggests that genetic predispositions, as well as exposure to different pollen and herbs from these regions of Asia, could be major contributing factors.

The grass pollen season in Australia from early October to December, Deputy Director General of Health Angie Bone urged people of East and South Asian descent to prepare.

"People can take protective measures, such as getting their inhaler, staying indoors during storms, closing windows to keep pollen out," said Ms. Bone. .