By Vickie Redd, Asthma Educator
MCG Health System 

Even if you have asthma, it doesn’t have to have you.

The goal of asthma management is for a patient to be symptom free, have uninterrupted school or work attendance and be able to fully participate in activities. You can take control of your or your child’s asthma by:

1. Developing a treatment plan. If you’re using your rescue inhaler more than twice a week to treat symptoms, your asthma is poorly controlled. Talk to your doctor about medications to help manage persistent asthma.
2. Knowing and avoiding your triggers. These can include dust, pet dander, cooking fumes, smoke and exercise. By knowing what affects your asthma, you can avoid or manage any problems that may arise.
3. Knowing signs of an attack and acting fast. If you start to cough or wheeze, you should use your fast-acting (rescue) inhaler immediately instead of waiting for symptoms to become a full-blown asthma attack. Asthma can be unpredictable, so acting as soon as you see a sign is vitally important. Signs include:     
   • Coughing
   • Wheezing (a whistling noise during exhalation)
   • Shortness of breath, rapid breathing or difficulty breathing
   • Chest tightness
4. Monitoring symptoms. Keep track of your asthma. And if symptoms aren’t as well controlled as they used to be, speak to your doctor about updating treatment to help prevent symptoms.
5. Educating. Other family members, friends, teachers, school health professionals and those you work with should be encouraged to learn more about asthma.

Remember, with proper therapy, asthma can be controlled, but it requires a team effort, involving you, your doctor and those around you.

MCG Health System is composed of three organizations - MCG Health Inc. and the clinical services offered by the faculty of the Medical College of Georgia and the members of the MCG Physicians Practice Group.  MCG Health, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCG Medical Center, MCG Children’s Medical Center, the MCG Sports Medicine Center, MCG Ambulatory Care Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center and related clinical facilities and services.  MCG Health, Inc. was formed to support the research and education mission of the Medical College of Georgia, and to build the economic growth of the CSRA, the state of Georgia and the Southeast by providing an environment for delivering the highest level of primary and specialty health care.  For more information, please visit www.MCGHealth.org.