Preparing for Your Asthma Check-up

If you have asthma and have taken daily medicine at any time during the past 12 months for your asthma, please schedule an asthma check-up with your doctor at least twice a year. If any changes are made in your daily asthma medicines, schedule a follow-up asthma visit in three months or sooner, per your doctor’s instruction.

If your asthma is not in good control, schedule a visit with your doctor. Signs that may mean your asthma is not in control are if:

• You take your rescue/quick relief inhaler (i.e. albuterol, Xopenex®) twice a week for two weeks or more (unless you have exercise-induced asthma).
• You wake up from sleep because of asthma symptoms more than two nights per month.
• You refill your rescue/quick relief inhaler (i.e. albuterol, Xopenex®) more than twice a year.

Please bring the items listed below to each asthma appointment:

• Asthma medication and equipment – Bring all your inhalers, spacers, nebulizers with tubing and medication holders and other medicine devices.
• Asthma Check-up Questionnaire – This form can be found from the home page of Palo Alto Medical Foundation website. Please print and complete this form prior to your visit. http://www.pamf.org/asthma/schools/asthmacheckupquestions.pdf
• Asthma Control Test - This form can be found from the Palo Alto Medical Foundation website at http://www.asthmacontrol.com/. Please print and complete this form prior to your visit. Make sure to complete the Asthma Control Test for the specific age of the patient, 4-11 or 12 and over. If the visit is for a child under age 4, complete the 12 or over form for him or her.
• Asthma action plan – Bring the asthma action plan you are currently using.
• Personal Best Peak-flow number – If you use a peak-flow meter and have identified your very best peak-flow number, bring that number to your appointment. If you have not identified your best peak flow, visit our website for instructions. http://www.pamf.org/asthma/selfcare/peakflow.html

Important information to tell your doctor at the visit:

• What medications you are taking
• How often you are taking your controller medicine
• How often you use your quick relief/rescue medicine
• What asthma symptoms you are having
• How you are sleeping at night
• How asthma affects your daily activity
• Your peak-flow readings, if you take them
• Problems or difficulties you are having managing your asthma

Please be sure to write down any questions you have about taking care of your asthma and bring the questions with you to your appointment.