Asthma and Airway Centre

Managing Asthma

Responsibilities

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways with intermittent episodes of the muscle spasms. At the present time there is no cure for asthma, so the focus is to keep the inflammation under control through education and medication. The physician's responsibility is to determine and prescribe the safest effective treatment, educate the patient about the disease and teach the patient to participate in their care. People with asthma should accept the following responsibilities to help in the management of their disease:

1. Understand what asthma is.
   
2. Know your asthma triggers and avoid triggers where possible (excluding exercise).
   
3. Know the names, action and common side effects of your medications.
   
4. Know how to use your inhaler and practice proper inhalation technique.
   
5. Take medications as prescribed, seek help if in doubt.
   
6. Check expiratory date of medications and replace as necessary.
   
7. Remember to carry your reliever inhaler with you at all times.
   
8. Know the warning signs of worsening asthma and when to seek help.
   
9. Know when to initiate an action plan or adjust treatment as prescribed by your doctor.
   
10. Keep asthma under control.
    
11. Know how to control an asthma attack before it gets out of control.
    
12. Keep follow-up appointments so treatment can be reassessed periodically.
    
13. Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle and keep up to date with current issues in asthma.
    
14. Educate those less informed about asthma.

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