Questions to Ask

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Review the following 'Questions To Ask' about asthma so you're prepared to discuss this important health issue with your health care professional.

1. Do you specialize in treating patients with asthma? Do I need to see a specialist-such as an allergist or pulmonologist-to get my asthma under control?

2. Do I really have asthma or are my symptoms caused by another illness? What tests can you give me to know for sure?

3. What are the warning signs of an asthma flare-up? How do I know if the flare-up is severe? What should I do if I have a severe flare-up?

4. Can I use long-term control medicines to help control my asthma? What kind of side effects do these medications have?

5. Is it safe for me to use short-acting asthma medicines for quick relief during an attack? If I'm taking one or more long-term controller meds, is it still safe?

6. I have a heart condition. Are there some asthma medications I should stay away from, due to their tendency to increase heart rate?

7. What should I do if my asthma doesn't get better?

8. If I'm pregnant, what asthma medications are safe for me to take? Are there any that I shouldn't take at all?

9. Is it a good idea for me to get an annual flu shot if I have asthma? Can I make an appointment with you to get one?

10. Could there be something in my home making my asthma (or my child's asthma) worse? How do I get rid of it? Could my personal habits be contributing? Tell me what I can change.

11. What is a peak flow meter? How can I use it to monitor my asthma and see if it's getting worse?

12. Could you show me how to use my inhaler the right way? What should I do if I don't think my medication is working?

13. Do you measure lung function as part of your evaluation?