Why measuring asthma medication use is important:
Doctors often prescribe two types of medicine for patients with asthma. One is a long-term control medicine (also known as preventive medicine). It is taken every day to help patients manage symptoms and prevent asthma attacks. The other is a quick-relief medicine. It is taken during asthma attacks when symptoms are worse.
Taken as prescribed, long-term control medicine can help prevent or reduce the number of asthma attacks a patient has. This means that a person with asthma might not need quick-relief medicine as often and will be less likely to need to go to the hospital to treat an asthma attack.
Healthcare Quality Measure:
This measure looks at how often patients with asthma (ages 5 to 64) fill prescriptions for long-term control asthma medications compared to quick relief asthma medications, with the goal of more long-term control medications being used.
What you can do to manage your asthma
- Learn about asthma. Find out what can trigger (cause) asthma attacks and learn ways to stay healthy. Some examples of triggers are dust, mold, pollen, smoke, and allergies.
- Notice asthma attack symptoms. These symptoms can include shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing.
- Check your “peak flow,” which is how fast air comes out when you breathe. Checking your peak flow using a peak flow meter can help you track and manage your asthma.
- Meet regularly with your doctor. It is important to keep all appointments as your symptoms can change over time.
- Make sure to take all your asthma medicines, just as the doctor prescribed. This includes taking medicine even when you feel well.
- Teach others about asthma. Share copies of your asthma action plan with your family members and employer, and instruct them on what to do when you need help.
What your doctor can do to help you manage your asthma
- Test how mild or severe your asthma is.
- Teach you about asthma triggers (causes) that can lead to asthma attacks.
- Talk to you about medicine to help asthma, and explain the differences between medicines if you have more than one. There are two types of asthma medicines. Long-term control (preventive) medicine controls asthma symptoms. You need to take this medicine every day. Quick-relief medicine is taken only when your symptoms are worse or during asthma attacks.
- Work with you to write an "asthma action plan." This includes your asthma triggers, asthma medicines, and what to do during an asthma attack.
- Talk with you about smoking, second-hand smoke, and other factors in your environment that affect asthma.
- Test for foods or other allergens that may trigger asthma.
Diagnostic and Preventive Care
