Olympus Australia launches new website to help emphysema sufferers

Breatheagain.com.au is designed to provide emphysema patients and their support network with comprehensive information about the disease, the latest on novel treatment options available in Australia, and to help them connect with respiratory physicians specialising in this field.

According to Professor Hubertus Jersmann, a leading Respiratory Physician at The Royal Adelaide Hospital, “Optimal management of emphysema requires a diagnosis, the earlier the better. This website is a great resource for patients, relatives and doctors alike and helps navigate an increasingly complex and potentially confusing space.”

Emphysema, a form of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), severely affects quality of life, capacity to exercise and sleep patterns. It is often associated with other health conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis and depression.

Not only does COPD have a negative effect on patients’ quality of life and productivity, but it also has a wider impact on Australian society. According to Lung Foundation Australia, “the direct cost [of COPD] to the Australian health care system is estimated to be $900 million with hospital use contributing the largest share of health spending ($473 million).”

Natasha Botvinik, Olympus Australia’s Respiratory Product Manager, says it is important for the company to deliver an educational resource for emphysema sufferers: “As a global leader in respiratory endoscopy, Olympus has a responsibility to provide the Australian public access to the latest information on endoscopic treatment alternatives for COPD, in addition to the more traditional pharmacological options.”

With the launch of breatheagain.com.au, Olympus Australia in collaboration with leading Australian Interventional Pulmonologists, aims to contribute to the wellbeing of Australian society by fostering better education about emphysema.

Dr Tajalli Saghaie, an Interventional Pulmonologist from Macquarie University Hospital, believes the website is a positive step towards helping emphysema patients to better cope with their disease in the long-term: “When dealing with a chronic progressive debilitating disease like emphysema, every little attempt to better understand and manage this condition matters; just as every single breath matters for a breathless patient.”

For more information, visit www.breatheagain.com.au or contact Olympus Australia.

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