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Asthma treatment: 3 steps to better asthma control
By using a three-step approach to asthma management, you can keep your symptoms at bay, reduce flare-ups and prevent complications.
By Mayo Clinic staffAsthma treatment is tailored for each person and can change over time. Everyone who has the condition can benefit from asthma treatment to relieve tight, inflamed airways. But asthma triggers, severity and exact symptoms are different for each person — and so is the best asthma treatment plan. You'll need to work closely with your doctor to develop a written asthma treatment plan that's right for you. Follow your treatment plan, and adopt these three key steps to help you get better control of your asthma.
1. Track your symptoms
Record your peak flow measurements and your symptoms in a diary every day. Always take the diary with you when you go to the doctor, so you can review it together and make any needed changes to your asthma treatment plan. Keep an asthma diary to record:
- Increased shortness of breath or wheezing — a whistling sound when you exhale
- Disturbed sleep caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
- Chest tightness or pain
- Quick-relief (rescue) inhaler use, including when you need to use your inhaler and how many puffs you take
- Decreased productivity at work, school or home due to asthma symptoms
- Increased asthma symptoms during exercise
- Anything that seems to trigger asthma flare-ups, such as secondhand tobacco smoke or pollution
2. Check your lung function
Lung function tests can help determine your level of asthma control. Decreased lung function is a sign you need to adjust your medications according to your treatment plan. If you're following your treatment plan but still have decreased lung function, work with your doctor to adjust your medications. There are two primary lung function tests:
- Peak flow. By learning how to use a simple, hand-held device called a peak flow meter, you can detect subtle changes in your airways before you notice symptoms. A peak flow meter can be used at home to measure how well you can breathe. Peak expiratory flow (PEF) is the reading that indicates the fastest rate at which you force air out of your lungs. If your PEF readings are lower than usual, it's a sign your asthma may be about to flare up. Your doctor can give you instructions on how to deal with low readings as part of your asthma treatment plan.
- Spirometery. Spirometery tests are lung function (pulmonary) tests done at your doctor's office with a machine called a spirometer. Some people also use a hand-held spirometer to take measurements at home. Spirometry tests measure how much air your lungs can hold and how much air you can exhale after you've taken a deep breath. This measurement is called forced expiratory volume (FEV). Your doctor compares your FEV measurement with the predicted result for people who don't have asthma. This comparison is expressed as a percentage. Lower percentages mean your lungs aren't working as well as they should be, a sign your asthma is flaring up.
(1 of 2)
- Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, et al. Attaining optimal asthma control: A practice parameter. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2005;116(5):S3-S11.
- Balkissoon R. Asthma overview. Primary Care. 2008;35(1):41-60, vi.
- National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR-3): Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma-Summary Report 2007. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2008;121(6):1330.
