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California Asthma Care | Controlling Ashtma
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Section TitleSelf Care
  • Is my Asthma under Control?
  • Setting Goals
  • How to use a Peak Flow Meter
    Main content

    Is my Asthma under Control?

    To remain healthy, it is important to manage your asthma properly. If you find that after reviewing this page your asthma is not well-controlled, talk with your physician about ways of improving your health.

    Well Controlled

    • Daytime symptoms occur 0-2 days per week.
    • No limitation with activity.
    • Nighttime symptoms occur no more than once a month for ages 0-11 and no more than twice a month for age 12 and older.
    • Need rescue medication less than 2 days per week.
    • Peak flow reading is greater than 80% of personal best.
    • Asthma episodes require oral steroids 0-1 times per year
    Not Well Controlled
    if you have at least one of the following:
    • Daytime symptoms occur more than two days per week.
    • Some limitation in activity.
    • Nighttime symptoms occur more than twice a month for ages 0-11 and more than 1-3 times per week for ages 12 and older.
    • Need rescue medication more than 2 days per week.
    • Peak flow reading is between 50-80% of personal best.
    • Asthma episodes require oral steroids occur more than twice per year.
    Very Poorly Controlled
    if you have at least one of the following you should obtain medical help immediately:
    • Daytime symptoms occur throughout the day.
    • Activity is extremely limited.
    • Nighttime symptoms occur 2 or more times per week for ages 0-11 and 4 or more times per week for ages 12 and older.
    • Need rescue medication several times per day.
    • Peak flow reading is less than 50% of personal best.
    • Asthma episodes require oral steroids more than twice per year.


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    Printable Action Plans

    Children, 0-5 years old (PDF, 293 kb, Sutter Website)

    Children, 6 and older (PDF, 310 kb, Sutter Website)

    Adults (PDF, 1057 kb) in English, Spanish and Chinese

    Color diagram (PDF, 289 kb)

    Asthma Control Test, (a tool to check asthma control over a four-week period, asthmacontrol.com)

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