Summary
Why measuring filling a prescription for asthma medicine is important
Over 17 million American adults have asthma. Having good control of asthma includes getting and taking your asthma medicines. Good asthma control can keep asthma patients out of the emergency room or being admitted to the hospital.
Healthcare Quality Measure:
This measure looks at the percent of patients ages 12 to 50 who have asthma, and who filled a prescription for medicines that controls asthma when taken over the long term (months or years).
Your Role
What you can do to manage your asthma
- Learn about asthma. Find out what can trigger (cause) asthma attacks and learn ways to stay healthy.
- Notice asthma attack symptoms. These symptoms can include shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing.
- Meet regularly with your doctor. It is important to keep all appointments as your symptoms can change over time.
- Make sure you take all your asthma medicines, just as the doctor prescribed. This includes taking medicine even when you feel well.
- Teach others about asthma and what to do if you need help. Share copies of your asthma action plan with your family members and employer.
Your Doctor's Role
How your doctor can help you manage your asthma
- Test how mild or severe your asthma is.
- Teach you about asthma triggers (causes of asthma attacks).
- Talk to you about types of medicines that you can take to help your asthma. Medicines can be taken even day to help your asthma in the long term. These are called "long-term control medicines". "Quick-relief medicines" can help when you are having an asthma attack.
- Work with you to write an "asthma action plan." This includes a list of asthma triggers, medicines to control asthma, and ways to treat an asthma attack.
- Talk with you about smoking, second-hand smoke, and other factors that affect asthma.
Asthma is a chronic (long-term) disease that makes it hard to breathe freely. Because it affects breathing and because it cannot be cured, asthma should be managed (taken care of) every day. You and your doctor (or your child's doctor) can work together to develop a plan to help avoid the problems caused by asthma.