Diagnosing and Managing Asthma
Date: 06/23/17
Clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma describe the key clinical activities and action steps needed to provide quality care to patients with the chronic lung disease.
Beyond initial diagnosis and treatment, the guidelines also address the need for patients with asthma to obtain long-term follow-up care to maintain control of the disease which will ideally reduce the frequency and intensity of symptoms and resulting functional limitations, decrease the likelihood of future asthma attacks, and prevention of a decline in lung function.
Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services include the following action steps:
- Establish an asthma diagnosis
- Assess asthma severity
- Initiate medication and demonstrate use
- Develop a written asthma action plan
- Schedule follow-up appointments
At follow-up appointments, providers should:
- Assess and monitor asthma control
- Review medication technique and adherence, side effects and environmental control
- Maintain, step up or step down medication
- Review the asthma action plan and revise as needed
- Schedule the next follow-up appointment
For more information on clinical practice guidelines for diagnosing and managing asthma, go to the NHLBI website or to the California Health & Wellness website.