YOUR ASTHMA IS WELL
CONTROLLED IF:
You have no symptoms, or
symptoms less than three times per
week (wheezing, coughing, short of
breath, chest tightness)
You can perform all of your normal
activities without asthma symptoms.
ACTION
1. Use your preventer medication
every day as agreed between
yourself and your asthma nurse
2. Use your reliever inhaler if you
have symptoms
YOUR ASTHMA IS GETTING
WORSE IF:
You need your reliever inhaler
(usually blue) more than three
times per week.
You have difficulty sleeping
because of asthma or have a
night time cough, wheeze,
shortness of breath or chest
tightness which may not disturb
sleep
Your child may complain of
stomach ache before more
obvious asthma symptoms are
seen.
YOUR ASTHMA IS MUCH MORE
SEVERE IF:
You experience symptoms
(wheeze, cough, shortness of
breath, chest tightness) every day
Or you have symptoms all the
time
ACTION
1. Increase preventer inhaler to
max dose (contact your asthma
nurse if you are unsure what the
maximum dose of your inhaler is)
2. Continue to take reliever (blue
inhaler) when needed
ACTION
1. Increase preventer inhaler to
max dose (contact your asthma
nurse if you are not sure what the
maximum dose is
2. Stay on this dose until you have
had no symptoms for 10 days
then return to your usual dose
3. Continue to take your reliever
inhaler as needed.
4. If your symptoms do not
improve contact your asthma
nurse for a routine appointment
3. Contact your asthma
nurse/GP. You may need to be
assessed within one to two days.
ASTHMA EMERGENCY:
SIGNS OF AN ASTHMA
EMERGENCY
Your reliever inhaler (blue
inhaler) does not help
Your symptoms are getting worse
– wheezing, coughing, shortness
of breath, chest tightness –
despite using your inhaler
You cannot say a full sentence in
one breath – for example, if you
are an adult, can you say your
name and address in one breath?
Or, if your child cannot say “my
name is ________ and I am ___
years old” in one breath.
ACTION
1. Sit up and loosen clothes
2. Take your reliever inhaler
(usually blue) one puff every
minute for five minutes or until
symptoms improve.
3. If your symptoms do not
improve in five minutes – or if
you are in doubt – call 999 or
your GP surgery urgently.