Health Condition: Asthma
Asthma is a problem that affects the lungs and can cause shortness of breath, coughing, and difficulty breathing. It affects many people and the number of people who have asthma is increasing. Asthma is a serious condition and can cause people to miss school, work, and can lead to emergency room visits. All people who have asthma should be prescribed asthma, as described below.

The Indian Health Service has seen an increase in the number of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) patients diagnosed with asthma over the last 5 years.

What are the different types of asthma medications and who should take them?
There are two kinds of asthma medications. One is called a long term control medication and the other is a short acting reliever. The long term control medication is prescribed to people who have asthma that affects them often. People who have symptoms often from asthma or severe attacks should take a long term control medication. Short acting relievers are used for quick relief of asthma episodes and for emergency situations. Everyone with asthma should have a short acting reliever.

How do I know if my asthma is being controlled by the right medication?
If your asthma is well controlled, it will not interfere with the things that you do or cause you to feel short of breath. Some of the signs that your asthma is not well controlled are:

• Having shortness of breath, coughing or difficulty breathing more than two times a week
• Waking up at night with shortness of breath, coughing or difficulty breathing more than one time a month
• Needing to use a short acting reliever medication more than two days a week

Why is medication important?
Appropriate medication therapy will help you feel better and control your asthma so that you can live without asthma getting in your way. Many asthma-related hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and missed work and school days can be avoided if patients take the right medications.

What is the Transparency Performance Measure?
The Transparency performance measure is the percentage of IHS AI/AN patients ages 5-56 diagnosed with persistent asthma who received appropriate asthma medication therapy.

How is IHS doing?
To see how IHS is performing on this measure, click here.