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Prevention

By Mayo Clinic staff

Working together, you and your doctor can design a step-by-step plan for living with your condition and preventing asthma attacks.

  • Follow your asthma action plan. With your doctor and health care team, write a detailed plan for taking medications and managing an asthma attack. Then be sure to follow your plan. Asthma is an ongoing condition that needs regular monitoring and treatment. Taking control of your treatment can make you feel more in control of your life in general.
  • Get immunizations for influenza and pneumonia. Staying current with immunizations can prevent flu and pneumonia from triggering asthma flare-ups.
  • Identify and avoid asthma triggers. A number of outdoor allergens and irritants — ranging from pollen and mold to cold air and air pollution — can trigger asthma attacks. Find out what causes or worsens your asthma, and take steps to avoid those triggers.
  • Monitor your breathing. You may learn to recognize warning signs of an impending attack, such as slight coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath. But because your lung function may decrease before you notice any signs or symptoms, regularly measure and record your peak airflow with a home peak flow meter.
  • Identify and treat attacks early. If you act quickly, you're less likely to have a severe attack. You also won't need as much medication to control your symptoms. When your peak flow measurements decrease and alert you to an oncoming attack, take your medication as instructed and immediately stop any activity that may have triggered the attack. If your symptoms don't improve, get medical help as directed in your action plan.
  • Take your medication as prescribed. Just because your asthma seems to be improving, don't change anything without first talking to your doctor. It's a good idea to bring your medications with you to each doctor visit, so your doctor can double-check that you're using your medications correctly and taking the right dose.
  • Pay attention to increasing quick-relief inhaler use. If you find yourself relying on your quick-relief inhaler, such as albuterol, your asthma isn't under control. See your doctor about adjusting your treatment.
Coping and support
References
  1. What is asthma? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma/. Accessed March 14, 2012.
  2. McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2012. 51st ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2740. Accessed March 14, 2012.
  3. Parker MJ. Asthma. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 2011;44:667.
  4. Asthma action plan. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/asthma/asthma_actplan.htm. Accessed March 14, 2012.
  5. Longo DL, et al. Harrison's Online. 18th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=9127709. Accessed March 14, 2012.
  6. Asthma overview — What causes asthma? Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&cont=6. Accessed March 13, 2012.
  7. Bjerg A. A strong synergism of low birth weight and prenatal smoking on asthma in schoolchildren. Pediatrics. 2011;127:e905.
  8. Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2012: 5 Books in 1. Philadelphia, Pa. : Mosby Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05611-3..00010-0--sc0310&isbn=978-0-323-05611-3&sid=1283797418&uniqId=324341161-6#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05611-3..00010-0--s6435. Accessed March 13, 2012.
  9. Asthma overview — Diagnosis. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&cont=7. Accessed March 13, 2012.
  10. Zafirlukast. Micromedex Healthcare Series. http://www.micromedex.com. Accessed March 14, 2012.
  11. Asthma overview — Treatment. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&cont=8. Accessed March 13, 2012.
  12. Hashimoto S, et al. Current treatment of severe asthma. Clinical and Experimental Allergy. In press. Accessed Mar. 14, 2012.
  13. Allergy overview — Treatment. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&cont=81. Accessed March 13, 2012.
  14. Mason RJ, et al. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4710-0..00038-9--s0250&isbn=978-1-4160-4710-0&sid=1283802117&uniqId=324341161-7#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4710-0..00038-9--s0325. Accessed March 14, 2012.
  15. Indoor air quality and allergies. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=18&cont=233. Accessed March 15, 2012.
  16. Bruton A, et al. The role of breathing training in asthma management. Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2011;11:53.
  17. Alternative therapies. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&sub=16&cont=40. March 14, 2012.
  18. Butterbur. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/nd/Search.aspx?cs=MAYO&s=nd&pt=100&id=649. Accessed March 15, 2012.
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  20. Pycnogenol. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/nd/Search.aspx?cs=MAYO&s=nd&pt=100&id=1019. Accessed March 15, 2012.
  21. Fish oil. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/nd/Search.aspx?cs=MAYO&s=nd&pt=100&id=993. Accessed March 15, 2012.
  22. Li JT (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 22, 2012.
  23. Anderson CF (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 20, 2012.
DS00021 May 26, 2012

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