The Asthma Control Information That Can Save Your Life

As strange as it sounds, it is now within your power, as an asthmatic victim, to enjoy asthma control in your life.

Unlike the past when people couldn’t do much asthma control, it is now possible to do so.

One of the best ways to control asthma is to first prevent those things that trigger it. This will help control it by a very large percentage.

Most people NEVER have any asthmatic attack until after getting exposed to certain triggers of asthma. That is why it is critically important for you to do all you can to prevent getting exposed to such asthma triggers. Doing so is a great way to control asthma.

Another way to control asthma is to always take your preventive asthma drugs and medication. If you don’t have these, then talk to your doctor so that he or she would give you all the asthma drugs and medications you need.

With these in place you will be able to get asthma control by always taking your medication.

Note that you don’t have to wait to have a sudden asthmatic attack before taking asthma drugs and medication. Taking them even when you don’t have any signs of impending attack is good practice and will save you lots of risks in the long run. It is in line with the saying “prevention is better than cure”.

Finally, for asthma control, always have your medication within reach- most especially your inhaler. This will help you when there is no one around and you do have an asthmatic attack.

Taking special note of the above tips will help you in getting asthma control. And this could save your life and by passing it on- it can save the lives of your friends, colleagues, relatives and loved ones from the menace of asthma.

What To Know About Asthma Control Test

One of the major reasons why people continue to die from asthma, especially adults, is because of ignorance.

They have asthma but don’t take know about it or think it is well under control and therefore don’t do what is needed to be done until they experience an asthmatic attack that is so severe it kills them.

There is the need therefore for everyone to take the asthma control test, including you. It doesn’t matter if you ‘think’ your condition isn’t asthma. The control test will determine this.

If you still wondering what The Asthma Control Test is, it is a kind of survey that was designed specifically for asthmatic patients to describe their asthma and how it affects them.

Note that this control test is not to be used as a tool for asthma diagnosis, but for your doctor to help out with your treatment options.

So, necessary is this test that American Lung Association strongly supports it and encourages everyone with asthma to go for it… no matter how much control of their asthma they think they have.

The 5 questions asked in the Asthma Control Test include:

1. In the past 4 weeks, how much of the time did your asthma keep you from getting as much done at your work or home?

2. During the past 4 weeks, how often have you had shortness of breath?

3. During the past 4 weeks, how often did your asthma symptoms (wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, or pain) wake you up at night or earlier than usual in the morning?

4. During the past 4 weeks, how often have you used your rescue inhaler or nebulizer medication (such as albuterol, Ventolin®, Proventil®, Maxair?, or Primatene® Mist)?

5. How would you rate your asthma control during the past 4 weeks?

After getting the results from this control test, the next 2 steps will be to take your score to your doctor and discuss your treatment options.