Asthma and Respiratory

Asthma and other respiratory conditions can affect your breathing, energy levels, sleep, exercise and day-to-day activities. Good asthma care involves understanding your symptoms, knowing what triggers them, using inhalers correctly, and having a clear plan for what to do if your breathing gets worse. Working with your GP or Practice Nurse to create a personalised asthma action plan is one of the best ways to stay well and continue living a full and active life.

During an asthma or respiratory review, our nursing team may discuss how often you are having symptoms, whether you wake at night with coughing or wheeze, how often you need reliever medication, whether you have had flare-ups or hospital visits, and whether your current treatment is working well for you. We can also check your inhaler technique, discuss spacer use, review your medications, and help update your asthma action plan.

Common asthma triggers include colds and flu, pollen, dust, mould, exercise, cold air, smoke, vaping, pets, workplace irritants and some medicines. Identifying your triggers and knowing how to respond early can help reduce flare-ups. We also encourage people with asthma or respiratory conditions to keep immunisations up to date, including annual flu vaccination where appropriate.

Linked to our focus on respiratory health, we also offer support for stopping smoking and reducing exposure to second-hand smoke. Stopping smoking is one of the most effective ways to improve breathing, reduce respiratory symptoms and protect long-term lung health. If you smoke or vape and would like support to cut down or stop, please speak with one of our nurses or doctors.

Please seek urgent medical help if you are very short of breath, struggling to speak in full sentences, your reliever is not helping, your symptoms are getting worse quickly, or you are worried about your breathing. In an emergency, call 111.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a long-term condition where the amount of glucose, or sugar, in your blood is too high. This can happen when your body does not make enough insulin, or when insulin does not work as well as it should. Over time, high blood glucose can affect your heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves and blood vessels, so early testing and regular follow-up are important.

Do any two of these fit you?

• Māori, Asian, Middle Eastern or Pacific Island descent –  aged 30 years or older
• European descent – aged 40 years of age or older
• Diabetes in your family (Grandparents, parents, brothers or sisters)
• Overweight (especially if you carry most of your weight around your waist)
• Diagnosed as having Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT)
• Have had gestational diabetes (diabetes in pregnancy)

If two or more of these risk factors apply to you, please speak with one of our nurses or doctors about diabetes screening. Testing is usually done with a simple blood test called an HbA1c, which gives an indication of your average blood glucose level over the previous few months. People with prediabetes, previous gestational diabetes, or other higher-risk features may need testing more regularly.

If you have diabetes, regular reviews help reduce the risk of complications and support you to manage your health well. These checks may include blood glucose monitoring, blood pressure, cholesterol, kidney function, foot checks and eye screening. Our Nursing team can also support you with healthy eating, physical activity, medicines, smoking cessation and practical goals that fit with your life and whānau.

You can reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by staying physically active, eating a balanced diet, keeping your weight in a healthy range, reducing sugary drinks and highly processed foods, stopping smoking, and limiting alcohol. Small changes made consistently can make a meaningful difference over time. If you would like support, please contact our nursing team.

Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Cardiovascular disease includes conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels, such as heart attack, angina and stroke. A cardiovascular risk assessment helps estimate your chance of having a heart or blood vessel event in the next five years. It also helps your healthcare team identify practical steps to reduce your risk and support your long-term health.

You may have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease if you have a family history of heart disease or stroke, smoke or have smoked in the past, have high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, diabetes, kidney disease, or are above a healthy weight range, particularly if weight is carried around the waist. Risk can also be increased by physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet, high alcohol intake, ongoing stress, and some medical conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome. Many risk factors do not cause symptoms, so regular checks are important even if you feel well.

Cardiovascular risk assessments – who should be screened?

Males

Māori, Pacific peoples and people from the Indian subcontinent should generally begin cardiovascular risk assessments from age 30 years. People with known cardiovascular risk factors, or those at high risk of developing diabetes, should generally begin from age 35 years. Males without known risk factors who are not Māori, Pacific or from the Indian subcontinent should generally begin from age 45 years.

Females

Māori, Pacific peoples and people from the Indian subcontinent should generally begin cardiovascular risk assessments from age 40 years. People with known cardiovascular risk factors, or those at high risk of developing diabetes, should generally begin from age 45 years. Females without known risk factors who are not Māori, Pacific or from the Indian subcontinent should generally begin from age 55 years.

What happens during a cardiovascular risk assessment?

A cardiovascular risk assessment may include checking your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose or HbA1c through blood tests, weight, smoking status, family history and other health information. Your doctor or nurse will discuss the results with you and may recommend lifestyle changes, further monitoring, medication, or referral for additional support if needed.

Reducing your risk

You can reduce your risk by stopping smoking, being physically active, eating a balanced diet, reducing salt and saturated fat intake, limiting alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight, and taking prescribed medicines as directed. Small changes can make a meaningful difference over time. If you are unsure where to start, please speak with one of our nurses or doctors.

Cervical Screening

Cervical screening helps prevent cervical cancer by checking for human papillomavirus, or HPV, which causes most cervical cancers. In New Zealand, cervical screening is recommended for women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 69 who are or have ever been sexually active. Regular screening can find HPV early, before it causes cell changes, and allows follow-up or treatment if needed.

Our nursing team can support you with cervical screening in a safe and respectful way. For many people, HPV screening can now be done using a simple self-test swab, or you can choose to have a cervical sample taken by a trained health professional. If you are unsure whether you are due, overdue, or would like to discuss the best option for you, please contact our nurses to book an appointment.