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Asthma treatment: 3 steps to better asthma control
1. Track your symptoms
2. Record how well your lungs are working
3. Adjust treatment according to your asthma action plan
Work with your doctor
Content
1. Follow your asthma action plan
2. Use at-home lung tests
3. Keep an asthma diary
Work with your health care team
Levels of asthma control in people 12 and older
2. Record how well your lungs are working
3. Adjust treatment according to your asthma action plan
Work with your doctor
Content
1. Follow your asthma action plan
2. Use at-home lung tests
3. Keep an asthma diary
Work with your health care team
Levels of asthma control in people 12 and older
Levels of asthma control in people 12 and older
| Well controlled | Poorly controlled | Very poorly controlled | |
| Symptoms such as coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath | 2 days a week or fewer | More than 2 days a week | Throughout the day |
| Nighttime awakenings | 2 times a month or fewer | 1 to 3 times a week | 4 times a week or more |
| Effect on daily activities | None | Some limits | Extremely limiting |
| Quick-relief inhaler use to control symptoms | 2 days a week or fewer | More than 2 days a week | Several times a day |
| Lung test readings | More than 80% of your predicted personal best | 60% to 80% of your predicted personal best | Less than 60% of your predicted personal best |
If your asthma is well controlled, your provider may lower the dose of your medicines. If your asthma is poorly controlled or very poorly controlled, you may need to take different medicines or higher doses of medicine. These changes are recorded in your new asthma action plan.
You also may need to take steps to control triggers, such as increasing or changing allergy treatments. You may need to take steps to remove or avoid asthma triggers.
