What is Good Asthma Control?
Most asthma expertswill now say that thanks to modern asthma wisdom and medicinemostasthmatics can gain control of their asthma.
So
how do you know your asthma is controlled?
What is good asthma control?
According to the Global Initiative For AsthmaAsthma Guidelines, your asthma should be
classified as either controlled, partly controlled, or uncontrolled.
So what does this mean for you and me.
Let's define the above terms:
Controlled:
No daytime symptoms (shortness of breath, chest tightness, etc.)
No limits on activities (you can walk, exercise, attend school, work)
No nighttime symptoms (no waking at night due to asthma)
Minimal use of rescue medicine (less than twice in two weeks)
Lung function (FEF
or FEV1 are normal)
Partly Controlled:
Daytime symptoms more than twice a week
Some limitations in activities (trouble exercising, missed days work/school)
Wake sometimes at night due to asthma symptoms
FEF and FEV1 less than 80% of predicted
Need rescue medicine more than twice a week
Uncontrolled:
Three or more features of uncontrolled asthma.
Asthma is limiting your lifestyle, effecting your morale and general satisfaction.
The National Heart Lung and Blood Institutes (NHLBI)Asthma Guidelinesdefine control pretty much the same as the GINA guidelines:
Control is the degree the above guidelines are metplusthe degree YOUR goals of therapy are met.
Your goals may be:
I just want to be able to walk
I want to be able to exercise
I don't want to miss any more school or work due to my asthma
Another means to monitor control is your own personal satisfaction.
Are you satisfied with your life given your asthma severity?
我将用我自己作为一个实例。
I still use my rescue inhaler a few times per day yet I'm still able to live a normal, active life.
I never miss work due to asthma, and I can exercise and even run.
I feel my asthma rarely stops me from doing the things I want to do. Therefore, my doctor and I have decided my asthma is controlled -- or at least as controlled as it's going to be.
So essentially there's a few
tools to help you and your doctor determine if your asthma is controlled:
Guidelines like those listed above
The degree to which your goals of therapy are accomplished
Your personal degree of satisfaction
If your asthma is controlled, GREAT
Continue to see your doctor
as
often as he recommends, and no less than
at least once per year.
And most important, continue being a gallant asthmatic.
If your asthma is partly controlled or uncontrolled, you'll want to continue to work with your doctor.
He may continue to tweak your asthma regime until your goals are met and you're satisfied.
Remember, all asthmatics should be able to obtain asthma control.
