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If you or your child have asthma, here is some valuable information that you should know.
If you answered “yes” to any one of these questions, it might be a sign that your asthma is getting worse and should be re-evaluated by your physician.
The guideline from the National Institutes of Health1 says that if you are using your quick-relief inhaler three or more times a week or you’re waking up at night with asthma symptoms more than twice a month, you may need to be taking medication for long-term control. Undiagnosed or under-treated asthma can cause long-term damage to lungs, especially in children2.
Here’s the long and short of it. Quick-relief medications work immediately to relieve the symptoms of an asthma attack. They quickly relax the muscles of the airways to make breathing easier. However, they do not treat the underlying inflammation in your lungs.
Long-term control medications are generally taken on a daily basis in order to achieve and maintain control of persistent asthma. By taking this medication every day, you can treat the underlying causes of asthma and often prevent asthma attacks from beginning in the first place.
Only you and your doctor can determine if the use of long-term control medications is right for you. A blank Asthma Action Plan can be downloaded; we encourage you to bring the action plan and this letter with you to your next appointment and use it as a way to discuss treatment options with your doctor.
To learn more about asthma control call ConnectiCare’s BREATHE program at 1-800-390-3522 to talk with our asthma case manager.
1National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Expert Panel Report 3, Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
2Robert Miles, M.D., President of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI)
