ASTHMA BASICS
What is asthma control?
If a person is having disturbed sleep, or restriction of activities, or shortness of breath, or missing school, or having to take a couple of puffs of albuterol most days their asthma is not adequately controlled.
“The Rules of Two.” Is a good way to assess whether asthma is in control. Asthma is not controlled if a person:
- Has daytime symptoms more than two times a week, or
- Has nighttime symptoms more than two times a month, or
- Uses more than two canisters of rescue medicine a year
Some reasons might be:
- Not taking asthma medicines as prescribed.
- Using the inhaler incorrectly.
- Taking the medicine correctly, but dose is too low.
- Does not respond to this particular medicine.
- Has a new trigger that has made the asthma worse, or an increase in a known trigger.
- Has a co-existing illness that’s making the asthma symptoms worse.
- Not following treatment plan because it is too complicated.
- Asthma is not the cause of the symptoms.
When do you stop asthma treatment?
Persons need to have regular follow up even when asthma is well controlled. Remember it can take months to reduce inflammatory changes once inhaled corticosteroid therapy is begun. Don’t reduce or stop taking asthma medications without your health care provider's advice.
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