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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYou're likely to start by first seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. Or, you may start by seeing a doctor who specializes in asthma (allergist/immunologist or pulmonologist).
Because appointments can be brief, and because there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be well-prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there's anything you need to do in advance. You may need to stop taking antihistamines if you're likely to have an allergy skin test.
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
- Note the timing of your asthma symptoms — for example, note if your symptoms are worse at work and get better when you're away from work.
- Make a sketch of your work area, which includes any sources of possible asthma triggers, toxic substances or known lung irritants.
- Make a list of all possible workplace lung irritants and anything else that seems to trigger your symptoms. You may want to take a look at the material safety data sheet (MSDS) for your work area, if there is one. Usually kept in a binder near your work area, this sheet lists toxic substances and irritants used on your job site. (Keep in mind, not all occupational asthma triggers are listed in the MSDS).
- Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes and any changes in your job or workplace.
- Bring a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that you're taking.
- Bring a family member or friend along, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to soak up all the information provided to you during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor.
Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions ahead of time will help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For occupational asthma some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- Is a workplace irritant a likely cause of my breathing problems or asthma flare-ups?
- Other than the most likely cause, what are other possible causes for my symptoms or condition?
- What kinds of tests do I need?
- Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?
- What is the best course of action?
- What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
- I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
- Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
- Should I see a specialist? What will that cost, and will my insurance cover seeing a specialist?
- Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing me?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What Web sites do you recommend visiting?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment if you don't understand something.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:
- When did you first notice your symptoms?
- How severe are your symptoms?
- Do you have breathing problems when you're away from work or only when you're on the job?
- Have your symptoms been continuous, or do they come and go?
- Have you ever been diagnosed with allergies or asthma?
- Are you exposed to fumes, gases, smoke, irritants, chemicals, or plant or animal substances at work? If so, how often and for how long?
- Do you work in unusual environmental conditions such as extreme heat, cold or dryness?
- What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
- Do allergies and asthma run in your family?
- Chan-Yeung M. Overview of occupational asthma. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 29, 2009.
- Malo J. Diagnosis and clinical assessment of asthma. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 29, 2009.
- Dykewicz MS. Occupational asthma: Current concepts in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2009;123:519.
- GINA report, global strategy for asthma management and prevention. Cape Town, South Africa: Global Initiative for Asthma. http://www.ginasthma.org/Guidelineitem.asp??l1=2&l2=1&intId=1561. Accessed April 29, 2009.
- Chan-Yeung M. Pathogenesis of occupational asthma. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 29, 2009.
- Tips to Remember: Occupational asthma. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. http://aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/occupationalasthma.stm. Accessed April 29, 2009.
- Malo J, et al. Occupational asthma. In: Adkinson N, et al: Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier. 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/134488541-3/0/1806/57.html?tocnode=56310176&fromURL=57.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05659-5..00053-X_1739. Accessed April 29, 2009.
- Smith AM, et al. Management of work-related asthma. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2009;123:551.
- Passalacqua G, et al. ARIA update: I - Systematic review of complementary and alternative medicine for rhinitis and asthma. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2006;117:1054.
- Steurer-Stey C. Complementary and alternative medicine in asthma: Do they work? Swiss Medicine Weekly. 2002;132:338.
- Hayes M, et al. Are any alternative therapies effective in treating asthma? The Journal of Family Practice. 2007;56:385.
- Horwitz R. Controlling asthma: The role of nutrition. Explore Journal of Science and Healing. 2005;5:393.
- Mainardi T, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine: Herbs, phytochemicals and vitamins and their immunologic effects. Journal of Allergy Clinical Immunology. 2009;123:283.
