Overview

Asthma makes it hard for you to breathe. During a flare-up, the airways swell and narrow. Severe asthma flare-ups can be dangerous, but you can usually prevent them. Controlling asthma and treating symptoms before they get bad can help you avoid bad flare-ups. You may also avoid future trips to the doctor.

How can you care for yourself at home?

• Follow your Asthma Action Plan so you can manage your symptoms at home. An Asthma Action Plan will help you prevent flare-ups and control your asthma. If you do not have an Asthma Action Alan, work with your doctor to build one.
• Take your asthma medicine exactly as prescribed. Medicine plays an important role in controlling asthma. Talk to your doctor right away if you have any questions about what to take and how to take it.
  • Use your quick-relief medicine when you have symptoms of a flare-up. Some people need to use quick-relief medicine before they exercise to prevent asthma symptoms. Quick-relief medicine often is a salbutamol or combination inhaler, like Symbicort. In some cases, a certain type of controller inhaler is used as a quick-relief medicine. Ask your doctor what to use for quick relief.
  • Take your controller medicine every day, not just when you have symptoms. Controller medicine usually includes an inhaled corticosteroid, a combination inhaler, or a pill. The goal is to prevent problems before they occur.
  • If your doctor prescribed corticosteroid pills, take them until they are finished. They may take hours to work, but they may shorten the attack and help you breathe better.
  • Keep your medicines with you at all times.
• Talk to your doctor before using other medicines. Some medicines, such as aspirin, can cause asthma flare-ups in some people.
• Regular spirometry, organized by your doctor, is a good way to monitor how well your lungs are working.
• If you have a peak flow meter, use it to check how well you are breathing. This can help you predict when an asthma flare-up is going to occur. Then you can take medicine to prevent the asthma flare-up or make it less severe.
• See your doctor regularly. These visits will help you learn more about asthma and what you can do to control it. Your doctor will monitor your treatment to make sure the medicine is helping you.
• Keep track of your asthma flare-ups and your treatment. After you have had a flare-up, write down what triggered it, what helped end it, and any concerns you have about it in your Asthma Action Alan. Take your diary when you see your doctor. You can then review your Asthma Action Alan and decide if it is working.
• Do not smoke or vape, allow others to smoke or vape around you. Avoid places where smoking and vaping are allowed. These habits make asthma worse. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about stop-smoking programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good.
• Learn what triggers an asthma flare-up for you, and avoid the triggers when you can. Common triggers include colds, smoke, air pollution, dust, pollen, mould (including snow mould), pets, cockroaches, stress and other strong emotions, and cold air.
• Avoid infections such as COVID-19, colds, and influenza (flu). Wash your hands often. Get a flu vaccine every year, as soon as it is available. Stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines. Ask your healthcare provider about the pneumococcal vaccine.