5 Steps to Getting Your Asthma Under Control

3. What's the best medication for you? Now that severity of disease and personal goals are established, proper medication needs to be determined. There are two classes of medicines used in asthma management: long-term control medicines and quick-relief medicines. Long-term control asthma medicines are taken daily. These medicines help to reduce inflammation of the airways. Inhaled steroids are the most potent and effective medicines to help tackle this part of asthma. A person with asthma that is experiencing symptoms more than 2 days a week, or waking up at night more than 2 times a month, should take an inhaled steroid.

The other class of asthma medicines are quick-relief medicines. These medicines help tackle the bronchoconstriction part of asthma - that's when the muscles around the airways tighen, narrowing the passages your breath needs to get through. It's accompanied by wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. This class of medicines work fast, and should only be taken at the early onset of asthma symptoms or when symptoms are already present. Regardless of the severity of their disease, EVERYONE with asthma should have a quick-relief medicine.

4. Do you know how to use your medicine properly? Part of gaining asthma control with the proper medicines is knowing when and how to use these medicines. For any type of inhaler, it is strongly recommended that inhalers are administered with a spacer or holding chamber. These tools ensure that the majority of the medicine makes it to the airways in the lungs. Of course, medications only work if they are taken they way they are prescribed. Skipping doses or not taking them at all will not help anyone gain control of their asthma. If a person is experience side effects from their medicines, or feel their medicines are not helping, talk to your primary care provider. There are so many options available today that most people can find something that works really well for them.

5. Do you have an asthma action plan? An Asthma Action Plan is also important for maintaining control. The asthma management plan outlines what and how much of medicines to take daily (if needed) or when asthma symptoms are present. It also outlines what to do if symptoms are just starting to appear, what to do if the person with asthma is sick, and what are the asthma triggers for that person. This plan is developed by a primary care provider and in conjunction with the person asthma, and should be shared with everyone who cares for that person with asthma. This plan also needs to be reviewed at each doctor visit to make sure that it is still the best way to care for that person with asthma.

So, take some time to review your asthma action plan and really take a close look at your symptoms. If your asthma medicines seem to be helping you gain and stay in control, continue your plan according to what you and your primary care provider have established. If you are having more than two days a week with symptoms, make an appointment to see your provider. Your asthma management plan may need to be modified to help you stay symptom free.