Self-Management of Asthma is vital for those with asthma to lead happier and healthier lives.  Preventive care and being pro-active about health can be done easily by visiting a primary care provider at least twice a year, being properly diagnosed with the correct level of asthma severity - the medications may vary depending on how mild or severe the asthma, developing a written Asthma Action Plan with your physician - this plan will make managing asthma easier, getting the seasonal flu and H1N1 flu shots yearly, taking the correct asthma medicine daily as prescribed, using a spacer or holding chamber with your quick relief inhaler, discuss new treatment options and new medications with your physician, having spirometry (lung) testing every two years to monitor lung function and severity of lung disease, using a peak flow meter daily to self-monitor symptoms, and allergy testing are at the forefront of asthma management. 

So Think, Breathe, and Live Wisely!  

 

What Does It Mean By Having My Asthma "Under Control"? 

Goals of Asthma Therapy: Controling Your Asthma

• Prevent chronic and troublesome symptoms (for example: coughing or shortness of breath during the daytime, during the night, or after exertion/exercise).
• Require less frequent use (or less than 2 days a week) of "Reliever Medication" (beta2-agonists also known as bronchodilators such as albuterol and xopenex) for quick relief of asthma symptoms (This does not to include exercise induced asthma or bronchospasm).
• Maintain normal or near-normal lung function and breathing ability.
• Maintain normal activity levels (this includes exercise and other physical activity and attending school or work).
• Meet patients' and famllies' expectations and satisfaction with asthma care.

By Controlling My Asthma I Will:

• Prevent recurrent asthma symptoms and minimize the need for Emergency Department visits or hospitalizations.
• Prevent loss of lung function or breathing ability; for children - this means to prevent reduced lung growth by controlling asthma symptoms.
• Be provided the BEST medication management with very few or no side effects from medications. 

Your Asthma Is Not Under Control If You Answer YES to Any of the Following Questions:

• You Have Asthma Symptoms more than 2 days a week (asthma symptoms include: coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, unable to do or limited in performing daily activities, etc.)
• You Have Nightime Awakenings Due to Asthma more than 2 days in the past month (you are not able to sleep through the night due to asthma symptoms) 
• You Have to Use Your Quick Relief Inhaler or Nebulizer more than 2 times in the past week (quick relief medications include: albuterol, xopenex, ProAir, Maxair, Proventil, Ventolin, Duoneb, AccuNeb, etc.)

 

IF YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR QUICK RELIEF INHALER OR NEBULIZER MORE THAN 2 TIMES A WEEK, OR YOU WAKE UP AT NIGHT MORE THAN 2 DAYS IN A MONTH DUE TO YOUR ASTHMA, OR YOU HAVE ASTHMA SYMPTOMS MORE THAN 2 DAYS A WEEK -  YOUR ASTHMA IS NOT UNDER CONTROL!!!     

CALL YOUR PHYSICIAN OR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER FOR AN APPOINTMENT TODAY TO MODIFY YOUR CURRENT ASTHMA THERAPY/MEDICATIONS AND RE-ASSESS YOUR SEVERITY OF ASTHMA AND YOUR CONTROL OF YOUR ASTHMA SYMPTOMS. 

 

Key Questions You Need To Know

Here are some ideas to talk about with your doctor. Take these questions to your next asthma checkup.

What do I need to know?

• What is asthma?
• What makes my asthma worse? (What triggers my asthma?)
• Can I tell if an asthma attack is coming?  (What are my signs & symptoms before an asthma episode?)
• Will I always have asthma?
• How severe is my asthma? (Are my symptoms frequent or infrequent?)
• Have I had a lung spirometry test to check my lung function and how well I can breathe?

How can I keep my asthma under control?

• Do I or my child with asthma have an Asthma Action Plan?
• How and when should I take my asthma medicines?
• What kinds of asthma medicines am I taking (quick relief, controller, etc)?
• What can I do at home, at work or school to make my asthma better?
• Do I have to limit any of my activities?
• When should I get help from a doctor or hospital for my asthma?
• How often should I see my doctor for asthma check-ups?

Why will this help me or my child with asthma?

• Why do I need to keep away from my asthma triggers?
• Why is it important to take my medicines the as prescribed?
• What can I expect to happen if I do all, or most, of these things?
• What can I expect to happen if I don't?
• Does the school and daycare have a copy of my child's Asthma Action Plan?
• Do the school nurse, coach, physical education and other teachers know how to recognize when my child is having an asthma attack? Do they know what to do for my child when he or she is having an asthma attack?
• Does my child have their asthma medications with them at school?  

 

Click on the following for information on how to control and manage asthma!

Asthma Action Plan (PDF) 

Asthma Action Plan - Condensed Wallet Size

Asthma and the Flu

NEW* Asthma and other Respiratory Disease Medications Defined

Diagnosing Asthma in Young Children

Dry Powdered Inhalers - What are they?

Health Affects of Exposure to Secondhand Smoke with Children

NEW* Home Environment Asthma Checklist - Is your home "asthma friendly"? Here is an easy to follow list and suggestions to improve the air quality of your home

Key Indicators for Considering a Diagnosis of Asthma - from the National Institute of Health and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Guidelines 2007

List of Inhaled Medications - includes NHLBI Guidelines EPR3 referencing

Safe Cleaning for People with Asthma - learn safer ways to clean your home and office

Types of Lung Function Tests - spirometry testing, peak flow meters, and other tests defined

For the Family

Things a family can do to get ready for an "asthma" lung doctor visit

Learn about asthma

Managing Asthma while Pregnant 

NEW* Precious Breathers - (Pediatric Respiratory Excellence Criteria and Initiative for Outreach: US) is the Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics' special program to help you identify respiratory problems in children under 5.

Asthma Informational Pamphlets  

Tobacco Use & Asthma Trifold - Know the Risks in West Virginia! 

Smoking and your health - for those with Asthma and Diabetes in WV

ASTHMA Guidelines TRIFOLD - Condensed version of the 2007 NHLBI Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Asthma Expert Panel Report 3

Asthma Trigger Banner

Self Management Banner 

Additional Asthma Links

Ask an Allergist - free service provided to people who want more specific information about asthma and allergies. This site does not answer questions about specific consumer products and provides only general advice regarding medicines and treatment approaches.

Asthma Explorers Club - a place for kids to learn about their asthma

Asthma Information for Patients and Parents of Patients

Asthma and Allergy Friendly Products - certification program to empower consumers to make an informed purchase decision when choosing allergen-avoidance products.

Asthma Moms - videos on how to control asthma at home and at school

NEW* County Health Rankings - How healthy is the county you live in? See how your county ranks in the state and nationwide.

get asthma help - asthma action plans for children and available in spanish

Health-e-kids Center for Children's Health and the Environment (MACCHE) at the Children's National Medical Center.

NEW* Healthy Children - powered by pediatricians from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Quest for the Code - interactive Asthma game available on-line and cd-rom that uses 3-D graphics, animation with celebrities to help children understand and manage their asthma.

For basic information on asthma in spanish in printable pdf,  please view El Asma under Asthma 101 on this site.

                                   

Note: You will need Adobe Reader (PDF) to view some these documents. Download the software here.