Asthma Guidelines Update
Virginia Taggart, M.P.H., Patricia Noel, Ph.D., and James
Kiley, Ph.D.
Chances are that you know people who have asthma. Are they
getting the best care possible?
More than 22 million Americans have asthma. Many hospitalizations,
urgent visits to the doctor, or school or work days missed
due to asthma could be prevented with appropriate care. The
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is committed
to finding the best ways to treat asthma, and, ultimately,
prevent it from developing. Research results have led to exciting
breakthroughs. We now know that asthma can be controlled so
that most patients can lead active lives without symptoms,
sleep through the night, and have good lung function.
The NHLBI's National Asthma Education and Prevention Program
(NAEPP) periodically reviews clinical studies on asthma, considers
the weight of the evidence, and translates the findings into
guidelines for clinical practice.
The NAEPP recently released the third update of the asthma
guidelines, giving doctors easy access to the most up-to-date
information and expert advice on managing asthma. Quality
asthma care includes four activities: educating patients in
self-management skills, monitoring asthma control, reducing
exposure to environmental factors that worsen asthma, and
administering medications. There is new information about
all of these activities. As a patient, what differences might
you expect in asthma care?
- You should receive a written asthma action plan that
describes how to control asthma long-term AND how to handle
worsening asthma, or attacks.
- You will need quick relief medication for symptoms. Many
patients also need daily long term control medication--the
new guidelines conclude that inhaled corticosteroids will
benefit most of these patients. Other medications may also
be helpful. Doctors and patients need to work together to
choose the best medication plan for each patient's circumstances.
- Your doctor will help identify which allergens or irritants
are important for you to avoid. The new guidelines stress
that multiple measures are necessary to control exposure
to allergens and irritants.
- You should get regular “asthma check-ups” to monitor
your asthma control. Visits at least every 6 months are
recommended because asthma varies from season to season
and it can change as you grow older. Monitoring allows your
doctor to increase medications if necessary or decrease
medications if possible.
- During doctor visits, you will be asked questions about
symptoms, medication use, and occurrence of attacks. You
will be given a lung function test. Be sure to ask questions
and discuss any concerns about your asthma treatment. This
way, you and your doctor can work together on a plan that
is best for you.
An important message of the new guidelines is that asthma education
shouldn't just happen in the doctor's office. Education and
“asthma friendly” policies throughout the community-- in clinics,
schools, workplaces, pharmacies, patient homes, and recreation
programs --will help all people with asthma receive the best
possible care.
This article was published in the Fall 2007 issue of the
ALA Lung Health Magazine. |