What is asthma?
Asthma is a disease in your lungs that makes it hard for you to breath. Asthma does not go away. The good news is asthma can be controlled. A person with controlled asthma can live a healthy and active life.
These are some signs of asthma:
- Problems with breathing
- Wheezing that sounds like whistling when you breathe
- Coughing during the day, at night, or when exercising
- Tight feeling in your chest
- Problems falling asleep or waking up at night
What are asthma triggers?
Some things can trigger an asthma attack and make it hard for you to breath. Staying away from triggers can keep you from having an asthma attack.
Some common triggers are:
- Smoke from cigarettes, pipes, and fires
- Dust and bugs
- Perfumes and other kinds of products that can be sprayed
- Pollen from flowers and trees
- Mold that grows in damp places
- Pets and other animals like mice and rats
- Exercise
To learn more about asthma triggers visit the CDC website - Controlling Asthma
What are controller medicines?
You can also keep your asthma in control by taking asthma medicines. You take these medicine every day even if you feel good. This kind of medicine is called a controller medicine. Controller medicines cut down on the swelling and mucus in your lungs. Some asthma medicines are used to stop an asthma attack. This kind of medicine is called a quick relief medicine. Talk to your doctor about the medicines you need to keep your asthma under control.
Tips for Managing Your Asthma
Know your triggers and signs of an asthma attack.
- Do you wheeze or start coughing before an asthma attack?
- Do you know what your triggers are (pets, smoke, etc.)?
Take your asthma controller medicine every day the way your health care provider told you.
- Do you take 1 puff or 2 puffs from your inhaler?
- Do you take your medicine 1 time every day or 2 times every day?
- Keep your medicines where you can see them.
Make a daily routine.
- Take your medicines at the same time every day.
- Link your medicines to a daily activity like brushing your teeth.
- Use reminders like a calendar, alarm, or smartphone app (Medisafe®).
Talk to your pharmacist.
- Learn how to use your inhaler to get the best results from your medicines.
- Refill all your medicines at the same time to save time going to the pharmacy.
Make an Asthma Action Plan
An asthma action plan helps you and people who care for you know how to take care of your asthma. It helps you keep track of what you need to do every day to prevent asthma symptoms like problems with breathing. It also tells you what to do if your symptoms are bad. You and your doctor can make an asthma action plan just for you. Here is a sample of asthma action plans:
For adults
For children
Other Resources
The asthma booklet includes tips on how to keep your asthma under control.
Asthma Control Test (ACT)
