Working With Your Doctor Towards Asthma Control

Working With Your Doctor 

  • Children with asthma need to have a regular doctor.
  • Visit your doctor twice a year for an asthma checkup, even if there are no problems.
  • Be prepared for your visit with the doctor (eg: problems, questions).
  • Help your child talk to the doctor about their asthma and ask questions.
  • Ask the doctor to write down any instructions.

 

Things To Bring To An Appointment

  • Your child's Asthma Action Plan
  • Asthma record or diary
  • All medicines and inhaler devices (eg. spacers or chambers)
  • List of questions in order of importance

 

What Your Doctor Needs To Know

Your doctor needs to know about:

  • asthma symptoms, what they are, when they occur and how often
  • what you think caused the asthma symptoms
  • new triggers
  • emergency or hospital admissions for asthma
  • activities missed or limited by asthma
  • asthma medicines used, when, and how long
  • side effects from medicines
  • use of other medicines (eg. over-the-counter medicines)
  • use of other treatments such as herbs or vitamins

 

What To Expect From the Doctor's Visit?

Expect your doctor to:

  • listen to your concerns
  • answer your questions
  • review medicines and how to use them
  • explain new medicines
  • make sure you have prescriptions
  • review and update your child's Asthma Action Plan
  • refer you for asthma education if needed

 

What Should The Doctor Expect? 

Your doctor will expect you to:

  • follow the plan you make together
  • avoid triggers
  • use medicine as directed
  • ask questions if you don't understand
  • tell him/her if you have concerns about anything you talked about
  • let him/her know if you have a problem paying for your medicine

 

What Do You Need To Know?

  • How to contact your doctor between visits
  • How to get more medicine between visits
  • Where to go for asthma education
  • When to return for a follow-up visit

What Is Asthma Control?

  • Normal activity
  • Normal sleep
  • No daytime asthma symptoms
  • No need for Reliever medicine
  • No emergency visits for asthma
  • No missed school/work for asthma

 

Asthma Allie Says:

 "Work with your doctor to control asthma!"

AsthmaAllie

The Children's Allergy & Asthma Education Centre © 2014