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Asthma - Management
How should I start treatment for asthma?
- Explain that lifestyle changes and medication are meant to control asthma symptoms and prevent an exacerbation.
- Explain the difference between reliever and preventive therapy, and demonstrate how to use inhalers and spacer devices.
- Prescribe an effective delivery system on the basis of convenience, cost, and suitability.
- Prescribe a short-acting beta2-agonist for use as required to treat daytime symptoms (twice weekly or less often) of short duration (lasting only a few hours).
- Prescribe a regular inhaled corticosteroid with the short-acting beta2-agonist if symptoms are at least three times weekly, or waking the person one night weekly.
- Prescribe a peak flow meter; record the person's best peak expiratory flow rate reading; and advise regular monitoring, especially during an exacerbation, worsening symptoms, or a medication change.
- Provide education about asthma, such as how to monitor symptoms and recognize an exacerbation.
In depth
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