Asthma

Things to Ask & Tell

your Doctor
Things to Things to
tell your doctor ask your doctor
Symptoms 1. How can I tell when my asthma is under good
— If you have had any night-time asthma symptoms, control?
such as cough, wheeze or breathlessness, since your
2. How can I tell when I am getting a flare-up of asthma
last check-up
symptoms?
— How many days a week you have had day-time
asthma symptoms in the last month 3. What medications do I need to take every day for my
— If your asthma has made it hard to keep up with asthma?
normal activity
4. Can I work out which triggers make my asthma worse
— If you have had any asthma flare-ups or attacks since
and can I do anything about them? 
your last visit
5. If exercise sets off my asthma, what can I do to control
Triggers
that, so I can keep active?
— Anything that seems to trigger/make your
asthma worse 6. What do I do if my asthma gradually gets worse over
—W hat you do about your triggers and a few weeks?
whether this helps 7. What do I do if I have a sudden or severe asthma
— How much exercise you do and any asthma symptoms flare-up (an asthma attack)?
during or after exercise
8. Can you please check that I am using my asthma
Medication & devices inhalers and other devices correctly?
—H  ow often you have taken your reliever inhaler in the
last month 9. Can I have a written asthma action plan?
—H  ow often you take your preventer medication (or Can you check that my written asthma action plan
is up to date?)
— S how your doctor how you use your inhaler
— If you are using any other medications or 10. When should I see you again for an asthma check-up?
complementary therapies

General Health Before you leave your doctor, make sure:

—A  ny other changes in your health, e.g. quitting — your medications have been reviewed, you know
smoking, increasing exercise, weight changes, which ones to take and when and you have enough
allergies, other health issues. prescriptions until your next visit
— F or women, if you are planning a pregnancy or may — you can use your asthma medication devices
be pregnant. correctly
If you have a written asthma action plan, bring it to — you have an up-to-date written asthma action plan
your appointment, so that your doctor can check it — you have booked another appointment for review
is correct and up to date.
1 Sit the person upright
— Be calm and reassuring
— Do not leave them alone

2 Give 4 separate puffs of blue/grey

reliever puffer
— Shake puffer
— Put 1 puff into spacer
— Take 4 breaths from spacer
Repeat until 4 puffs have been taken
Remember: Shake, 1 puff, 4 breaths
OR Give 2 separate doses of a Bricanyl inhaler (age 6 & over)
or a Symbicort inhaler (over 12).

3 Wait 4 minutes
— If there is no improvement, give 4 more
separate puffs of blue/grey reliever
as above
(OR give 1 more dose of Bricanyl or Symbicort inhaler.)

4 If there is still no improvement call

emergency assistance (DIAL OOO)
— Say ‘ambulance’ and that someone is
having an asthma attack
— Keep giving 4 separate puffs every
4 minutes until emergency assistance arrives
(OR 1 dose of Bricanyl or Symbicort every 4 minutes — up to
3 more doses of Symbicort).

Call emergency assistance immediately (DIAL 000)

— If the person is not breathing
— If the person’s asthma suddenly becomes worse, or is not
improving
— If the person is having an asthma attack and a reliever is
not available
— If you are not sure if it’s asthma
— If the person is known to have Anaphylaxis - follow their
Anaphylaxis Action Plan, then give Asthma First Aid.
Blue/grey reliever medication is unlikely to harm, even if the person
does not have asthma

Contact your local Asthma Foundation

AA10DR20142014

1800 ASTHMA (1800 278 462)

AADLFA2014

Translating and
asthmaaustralia.org.au Interpreting Service
© Asthma Australia 2014 Supported by the Australian Government 131 450