Asthma: how to tell if yours is under control

Many people with asthma get used to living with it: the night cough, the inhaler in the bag, taking the stairs more slowly. But getting used to it is not the same as having it under control. Asthma has no cure, and even so, with treatment and a plan, it can be managed.

What asthma is

It is a long-term lung condition. The airways become inflamed and narrowed at times, which makes it harder to breathe air out. According to the CDC, nearly 28 million people in the United States had it in 2023, including about 4.8 million children. It often starts in childhood, but adults have it too.

The symptoms

The CDC list wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing, especially at night or early in the morning. When they get worse, they can turn into an asthma attack.

What sets it off

Everyone has their own triggers. MedlinePlus, from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, lists these among the most common:

• Cold air and weather changes.
• Respiratory infections, such as colds.
• Pollen, mold, dust mites and pet dander.
• Tobacco smoke, air pollution and chemicals.
• Physical activity and stress.
• Some medicines, such as aspirin and other anti-inflammatories.

Knowing yours is part of the treatment.

The two kinds of medicine

• Long-term control: these prevent symptoms in people with moderate to severe asthma. You use them every day, even when you feel well.
• Quick relief (rescue): these treat symptoms during an attack or before exercise.

The sign many people miss

MedlinePlus recommends telling your doctor if you use quick-relief medicine twice a week or more. Using it often can mean your asthma is not well controlled, even if it feels like the inhaler takes care of it.

Your action plan

An asthma action plan is a written document, made with your doctor, that says when to take each medicine, what to avoid and how to recognize that your asthma is getting worse. Some plans use a peak flow meter, a simple device that measures how fast you can breathe out and can detect an attack before you feel symptoms.

When to call your doctor

• An attack needs more medicine than recommended.
• Symptoms get worse or do not improve with treatment.
• You get short of breath while talking.
• Your peak flow is between 50% and 80% of your personal best.

When it is an emergency

Call 911 if you or someone else has:

• Extreme difficulty breathing, or severe shortness of breath at rest.
• A bluish color to the lips or face.
• Drowsiness or confusion.
• A very rapid pulse or severe chest pain.
• A peak flow below 50% of your personal best.

How we handle it at the clinic

At our family medicine clinic we follow asthma in children and adults, adjust medications and review with you how it is going. If it has been a while since your last check, or you are using your inhaler a lot, book a visit. We see you in English or Spanish.

Sources

• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). What Is Asthma?.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About Asthma.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Most Recent Asthma Data.
• MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Asthma.

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This article is general information about our clinic and about asthma. It is not medical advice and does not replace a consultation with a professional. Do not change or stop your medications without talking to your doctor. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.