Managing Asthma Asthma Management Goals v Achieve and

Managing Asthma: Asthma Management Goals v Achieve and maintain control of symptoms v Maintain normal activity levels, including exercise v Maintain pulmonary function as close to normal levels as possible v Prevent asthma exacerbations v Avoid adverse effects from asthma medications v Prevent asthma mortality

Managing Asthma: Asthma Action Plan v Develop with a physician v Tailor to meet individual needs v Educate patients and families about all aspects of plan v. Recognizing symptoms v. Medication benefits and side effects v. Proper use of inhalers and Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) meters

Managing Asthma: Sample Asthma Action Plan Describes medicines to use and actions to take National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR 3): Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma. NIH Publication no. 08 -4051, 2007.

Managing Asthma: Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) Meters v Allows patient to assess status of his/her asthma v Persons who use peak flow meters should do so frequently v Many physicians require for all severe patients

Managing Asthma: Peak Flow Chart People with moderate or severe asthma should take readings: v. Every morning v. Every evening v. After an exacerbation v. Before inhaling certain medications Source: “What You and Your Family Can Do About Asthma” by the Global Initiative For Asthma Created and funded by NIH/NHLBI

Managing Asthma: Indications of a Severe Attack v Breathless at rest v Hunched forward v Speaks in words rather than complete sentences v Agitated v Peak flow rate less than 60% of normal

Managing Asthma: Things People with Asthma Can Do v Have an individual management plan containing v. Your medications (controller and quick-relief) v. Your asthma triggers v. What to do when you are having an asthma attack v Educate yourself and others about v. Asthma Action Plans v. Environmental interventions v Seek help from asthma resources v Join an asthma support group