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| Patients with Asthma don't always get the care they need. |
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| For Example, |
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 A study of over 60,000 patients with asthma showed that over three-quarters (78%) of adults had uncontrolled asthma and that half (50%) of asthma patients are not on a "steroid" inhaler. Source: Carltona, Journal of Asthma, 2005 |
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| A study on the
quality of health care delivered to adults in the United Stated showed that only
about half (54%) of patients with asthma received recommended care. Source:
McGlynn, New England Journal of Medicine, 2003 |
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| Another study of patients with asthma found that nearly two-thirds (62%) did not receive medications they needed and more than two-thirds (87%) had no "action plan" for what they should do if their asthma got worse. Source: Taylor, Chest, 1999 |
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| The following is an example only; the information below is not meant to apply specifically to you. |
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| Questions you should ask your doctor: |
| Since my asthma is worse than usual, would I benefit from taking a "steroid" medication by mouth? |
| Would I benefit from using an inhaler with a short-acting bronchodilator, such as albuterol? |
| Would I benefit from having a doctor or nurse watch me when I use my inhaler to be sure I'm using it correctly? |
| Would I benefit from having a doctor or nurse evaluate me to see if my asthma symptoms could be improved by reducing my exposure to an allergen or irritant? |
| Would I benefit from working with my doctor to create a written "Asthma Action Plan"? |
| Would I benefit from seeing an asthma specialist at this time? |
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| You should talk to your doctor to see if you need a steroid medication because your asthma is worse. |
| This is called an asthma "exacerbation." From what you've told us, your asthma is worse but you're not taking an oral medication called a "steroid." You should talk to your doctor about this. Many people whose asthma is much worse than usual can benefit from taking corticosteroid pills. These steroids are not bodybuilding steroids. In general, they should only be taken for a few days, but can help you feel better much more quickly. If you have been taking these medications for a longer period of time, you should talk to your doctor about alternative medications. |
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| You may benefit from using an inhaler with a short acting broncodilator. |
| From what you've told us, you're having asthma symptoms but you're not using an inhaler with a short-acting bronchodilator, such as albuterol. You should talk to your doctor about this. Most people who have asthma symptoms can benefit from using a short-acting bronchodilator, such as albuterol, when they have asthma symptoms. Only a doctor can prescribe one of these medications. They cannot be purchased without a prescription. |
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| You may benefit from having a doctor or nurse watch you use your inhaler to be sure you're using it correctly. |
| From what you've told us, no doctor or nurse has recently observed you using your inhaler. You should talk to your doctor about this. Many people who experience asthma symptoms more than twice a week can benefit from being observed at least yearly by a health professional to make sure that the patient is using his/her inhaler correctly. Metered-dose inhalers can be quite complicated to use and many patients do not use their inhaler correctly. |
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| You may benefit from having a doctor or nurse evaluate you to see if your asthma symptoms can be improved by reducing your exposure to an allergen or irritant. |
| From what you've told us, no health professional has evaluated you in the last year to determine whether your asthma symptoms could be improved by reducing your exposure to an allergen or irritant at home or at work. You should talk to your doctor about this. Many people who have a clear relationship between their asthma and an allergen in their environment can benefit from allergy treatments. These treatments include steroids inhaled through the nose, anti-histamines taken by mouth and allergen immunotherapy, also known as "allergy shots." |
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| It's great that you regularly use a peak flow meter to keep track of your asthma. |
| Many people who experience asthma symptoms every day or who frequently go to an emergency room or urgent care center for their asthma can benefit from regularly using a peak flow meter at home to monitor their asthma. |
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| You may benefit from completing a written "Asthma Action Plan" with a health professional. |
| From what you've told us, you have not recently completed a written "Asthma Action Plan" with a health professional. You should talk to your doctor about this. At least once each year, many people who experience asthma symptoms every day or who have been to an emergency room or urgent care center more than once in the past year for their asthma can benefit from completing, with the help of a health professional, written instructions for what they should do to manage their asthma exacerbations at home. This is called an "Asthma Action Plan" and it should make clear what should be done under the following circumstances: 1) Your asthma is worse but you are able to do your usual activities. 2) Your asthma is worse and your usual activities are somewhat limited. 3) Your asthma is worse, your usual activities are limited and you feel very short of breath. |
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| You may benefit from seeing an asthma specialist. |
| From what you've told us, you have not seen an asthma specialist in the past year. You should talk to your doctor about this. Many people who experience asthma symptoms every day or who frequently go to an emergency room or urgent care center for their asthma can benefit from seeing an asthma specialist at least once each year. These doctors are often called allergists or pulmonologists. |
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