Is Your Asthma Under Control?

To remain healthy, it’s important to manage your asthma properly. Review this page to see how well your asthma is controlled. If needed, talk with your doctor about ways to improve your health and set goals for daily life.

Well-Controlled

• Daytime symptoms occur zero to two days per week.
• No limitation with activity.
• Nighttime symptoms occur no more than once a month for ages 0-11 and no more than twice a month for age 12 and older.
• Need rescue medication less than two days per week.
• Peak flow reading is greater than 80% of personal best.
• Asthma episodes require oral steroids zero to one time per year.

Not Well-Controlled

Your asthma is not well-controlled if you have at least one of the following:

• Daytime symptoms occur more than two days per week.
• Some limitation in activity.
• Nighttime symptoms occur more than twice a month for ages 0-11 and more than one to three times per week for ages 12 and older.
• Need rescue medication more than two days per week.
• Peak flow reading is between 50-80% of personal best.
• Asthma episodes require oral steroids occur more than twice per year.

Very Poorly Controlled

If you have at least one of the following, get medical help immediately:

• Daytime symptoms occur throughout the day.
• Activity is extremely limited.
• Nighttime symptoms occur two or more times per week for ages 0-11 and four or more times per week for ages 12 and older.
• Need rescue medication several times per day.
• Peak flow reading is less than 50% of personal best.
• Asthma episodes require oral steroids more than twice per year.

Setting Goals and Taking Action

Make managing your asthma part of your daily routine and strive for the following goals:

• Be free from asthma symptoms, day and night.
• Have the best possible lung function.
• Participate fully in activities.
• Do not miss school or work because of asthma symptoms.
• Do not need emergency visits or hospitalization for asthma.
• Have few side effects from asthma medication.

You can reach these goals by taking these actions:

• Understand asthma and what causes it.
• Learn your triggers and how to control them.
• Keep track of asthma symptoms and how they affect normal activities.
• Keep an Asthma Action Plan up-to-date and follow it.
• Take medicines as directed by your healthcare provider.
• Make family members, school personnel and others part of your asthma team.
• Keep your healthcare provider informed and up-to-date about your or your child’s asthma.