A Breath of Fresh Tech for Asthma Care

Australia tests Wheezo, a live-tracking device aiming to cut asthma attacks and reduce costly hospital visits.

23 May 2025

Australia is experimenting with a new tool in the fight against asthma. Since April, Respiri, a health-tech firm, has been piloting Wheezo, a smart device that listens to breathing and alerts users to early signs of an attack. Its backers hope it will shift asthma care from reactive treatment to early prevention, easing pressure on hospitals and lowering costs.

Asthma is both common and costly in Australia, affecting more than one in ten people and racking up A$28 billion annually, based on 2015 figures. Wheezo tackles this burden by using a handheld sensor linked to a mobile app. It tracks breath sounds in real time, issuing instant alerts when wheezing is detected. The aim is to catch worsening symptoms before they require a trip to the emergency room.

The technology is part of a wider move towards remote health care. Respiri has its eye on the American market, where insurance companies reward preventive care. A foothold there could bring more investment and may encourage Australia’s insurers to follow suit.

This shift reflects a broader trend in chronic disease management. Firms like Telstra Health are rolling out remote-monitoring tools for conditions like diabetes and heart failure. Critics worry about information overload, but developers promise smarter algorithms will limit unnecessary alerts.

For now, Wheezo remains in trial, but industry watchers are hopeful. “This could be a blueprint for managing chronic diseases more broadly,” says a senior health official. Governments worldwide, faced with ageing populations and overstretched hospitals, are eager for cheaper, more effective solutions. Australia’s bet on real-time health monitoring may prove to be money well spent.