Asthmacan cause significant changes in the lungs over the short and long term. This can lead to a worsening of symptoms and an increase in their frequency. The first step to avoiding the complications of asthma and maintaining your respiratory health is learning to read the signs that your asthma is not well controlled.
This article reviews what those signs are and how to recognize an asthma emergency.
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Reasons for Poor Asthma Control
Asthma control has three goals:
When asthma is not well controlled, it is often because the prescribed treatment plan is not being closely followed.
It can also be because that plan needs to be adjusted or because you have been exposed totriggersyou previously avoided.
Asthma Control Obstacles In People of Color
What to Look Out For
If your asthma is not well controlled, you can expect to experience one or more of the following:
What Is a Peak Flow Meter?A peak flow meter is a handheld device that measures your PEFR. You can use it at home to help identify triggers, predict attacks, and know when to seek emergency care. Your healthcare provider can also use your results to decide if you need changes in your treatment plan.
What Is a Peak Flow Meter?
A peak flow meter is a handheld device that measures your PEFR. You can use it at home to help identify triggers, predict attacks, and know when to seek emergency care. Your healthcare provider can also use your results to decide if you need changes in your treatment plan.
If you have any of these symptoms, see your healthcare provider. You need to be evaluated for any significant changes in your respiratory health.
Spirometryis a healthcare practitioner-administered test that helps measure the function of your lungs. This and other tests can help determine the extent of any changes and how your treatment might need to be revised.
Signs of a Possible Asthma-Related Emergency
Worsening asthma symptoms can impact your quality of life, and you should be sure to make an appointment with your healthcare provider if you experience any of the above.
But there is a big difference between symptoms like asthma-related fatigue or increased coughing and an asthma-related emergency.
Seek emergency care at once if you have:
Left untreated,respiratory distress can lead to serious complicationsand even death. Don’t take chances. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek care at once.
What Is Silent Asthma?
Summary
The goals of asthma control are to prevent and reduce the severity of attacks, and prevent long-term lung damage. If you have symptoms like persistent cough, wheezing with physical activity, and getting easily tired, your asthma may not be well-controlled.
Seek emergency care if you have severe wheezing, fast breathing, shortness of breath while talking, or blue lips or fingertips. These are signs of an asthma-related emergency that must be addressed without delay.
A Word From Verywell
Anasthma action planis a personalized record of your symptoms and medications, drafted with the advice of your healthcare provider.
Your action plan will help you become aware of your triggers and the warning signs of anasthma attack.It should also include a note of your ideal PEFR and what to do when you have moderate or severe symptoms.
Keep in mind that changes to your action plan may be necessary over time.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Asthma signs and symptoms.NIH National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.Asthma care quick reference. Diagnosing and managing asthma.American Lung Association.Assess and monitor your asthma control.American Lung Association.Measuring your peak flow rate.American Lung Association.What are lung function tests and why are they done?D’Amato G, Vitale C, Lanza M, et al.Near fatal asthma: treatment and prevention.Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016;48(4):116-22.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Living with asthma.Additional ReadingKrishnan J, Lemanske R, Canino G, et al.Asthma outcomes: symptoms.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2012;129(3):S124-35. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2011.12.981
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Asthma signs and symptoms.NIH National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.Asthma care quick reference. Diagnosing and managing asthma.American Lung Association.Assess and monitor your asthma control.American Lung Association.Measuring your peak flow rate.American Lung Association.What are lung function tests and why are they done?D’Amato G, Vitale C, Lanza M, et al.Near fatal asthma: treatment and prevention.Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016;48(4):116-22.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Living with asthma.Additional ReadingKrishnan J, Lemanske R, Canino G, et al.Asthma outcomes: symptoms.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2012;129(3):S124-35. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2011.12.981
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Asthma signs and symptoms.NIH National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.Asthma care quick reference. Diagnosing and managing asthma.American Lung Association.Assess and monitor your asthma control.American Lung Association.Measuring your peak flow rate.American Lung Association.What are lung function tests and why are they done?D’Amato G, Vitale C, Lanza M, et al.Near fatal asthma: treatment and prevention.Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016;48(4):116-22.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Living with asthma.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Asthma signs and symptoms.
NIH National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.Asthma care quick reference. Diagnosing and managing asthma.
American Lung Association.Assess and monitor your asthma control.
American Lung Association.Measuring your peak flow rate.
American Lung Association.What are lung function tests and why are they done?
D’Amato G, Vitale C, Lanza M, et al.Near fatal asthma: treatment and prevention.Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016;48(4):116-22.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Living with asthma.
Krishnan J, Lemanske R, Canino G, et al.Asthma outcomes: symptoms.J Allergy Clin Immunol.2012;129(3):S124-35. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2011.12.981
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