Controlling and Monitoring Asthma Symptoms Hi. I’d like to introduce you to Brandon. Brandon is eight years old. Let me tell you a few things about Brandon. His favorite sport is soccer, his best friend is Joshua, he loves pizza, and he has asthma. Brandon tries not to let asthma get in the way of playing soccer. Instead he has learned how to control his symptoms. Let’s explore the steps that you and Brandon need to take to monitor your asthma symptoms. Click next to continue.

In the final rating, you need to rate your overall asthma control. Reflect on the week and how you felt. Be as objective as you can. Your score will help you take the appropriate action to control your symptoms. Now that you have scored each question, you need to total your score. Brandon’s total score is 16. With a final score you are ready to track your progress. Now that you have scored each question, you need to total your score. Brandon’s total score is 16. With a final score you are ready to track your progress. Did you use your quick-relief medication this week? How often? If you are using your quick-relief medication too much, this may be a sign that your symptoms aren’t under control. Brandon used his quick-relief medication a couple times after trying to play soccer. His score is three. Did you use your quick-relief medication this week? How often? If you are using your quick-relief medication too much, this may be a sign that your symptoms aren’t under control. Brandon used his quick-relief medication a couple times after trying to play soccer. His score is three. How often did asthma symptoms wake you up in the middle of the night or a bit earlier than normal? Sometime, it is hard to remember what happens in the middle of the night. You might want to ask someone that lives with to help keep track. Brandon woke up in the middle of the night twice. His score is three. How often did asthma symptoms wake you up in the middle of the night or a bit earlier than normal? Sometime, it is hard to remember what happens in the middle of the night. You might want to ask someone that lives with to help keep track. Brandon woke up in the middle of the night twice. His score is three. Over the past week, do you remember being short of breath? Did you ever stop what you were doing to catch your breath? Brandon was short of breath at least twice. This is what stopped him from playing soccer with his friends. His score is four. Over the past week, do you remember being short of breath? Did you ever stop what you were doing to catch your breath? Brandon was short of breath at least twice. This is what stopped him from playing soccer with his friends. His score is four. Think back over you week. Were you able to do everything that you wanted to do? Write the corresponding number in the score box. In our example, Brandon gives himself a score of three. There were a couple of times during the week that he didn’t feel up to playing soccer with his friends. Think back over you week. Were you able to do everything that you wanted to do? Write the corresponding number in the score box. In our example, Brandon gives himself a score of three. There were a couple of times during the week that he didn’t feel up to playing soccer with his friends Step 1: Asthma Control Test Each week you need to evaluate your asthma status. This is the first step in deciding if you need to change anything in your asthma protocol to keep asthma symptoms under control. Click each number to learn more.

Next you will see how Brandon’s asthma control test score is plotted on the graph below. Each color on the graph—red, yellow, and green—indicates a different course of asthma management. Before we plot Brandon’s score, click on each blue oval below in each colored section to see what scores in each range means. Step 2: Plotting on the Asthma Tracker

Brandon’s score from his Asthma Control Test was 16 (slide 2). See below how that has been marked with an “X”. Note how the “X” is in the yellow range of the graph. Click on the “X” to see what Brandon should do next to control his asthma. x Step 2: Brandon’s Score on the Asthma Tracker

Step 3: Asthma Action Plan Brandon’s ACT score of 16 puts him in the CAUTION stage of the Asthma Action Plan. Click on the Caution icon to learn more about what it means to be in this stage. Patients continue to take their controller medicine. Quick relief medicine is either additional dosages or a stronger medicine. If asthma symptoms are starting to appear, asthma patients modify their care to the Step Up Therapy zone.

Controlling and Monitoring Asthma Symptoms Now that you’ve walked through the process of using the asthma control test, tracking an asthma score, and consulting an asthma action plan, it is your turn to complete the process on your own. You are going to help Julie monitor her asthma symptoms. Julie is 25 years old and works as a human resource specialist. Over the past week, Julie hasn’t been feeling well. For the past five nights, she has come home and sat on the couch, skipping her trip to the gym. When she picks up her lunch, she feels short of breath. She has used her quick-relief inhaler everyday to help recover from shortness of breath. Julie has woken up in the middle of the night. She feels like her asthma is poorly controlled. Click next to continue.

Check Your Knowledge: Asthma Control Test Using your best judgment, enter a score for each question and total her score. Click each the info button to review Julie’s condition. Julie is 25 years old and works as a human resource specialist. Over the past week, Julie hasn’t been feeling well. For the past five nights, she has come home and sat on the couch, skipping her trip to the gym. When she picks up her lunch, she feels short of breath. She has used her quick- relief inhaler everyday to help recover from shortness of breath. On three separate nights, Julie has woken up in the middle of the night. She feels like her asthma is poorly controlled. i i X X i i

Now try plotting Julie’s score from her Asthma Control Test (slide 6) on the graph below. Her score was 10. Which color on the graph correlates with her score? Click on the correct color (symbol?) below for directions on what Julie should do next. Step 2: Julie’s Score on the Asthma Tracker

Select which stage of the Asthma Action plan Click the icon you believe is the correct action plan for Julie’s situation. If medicine is not working, breathing is very difficult, and the patient cannot walk, play or talk easily. Then it is time to increase quick relief medicine and seek medical care. That is correct. Julie’s score is a 10 which puts her in the STOP stage. Julie should follow the steps below to manage her asthma.