Asthma Control and Self-Management
A person’s level of asthma control is based on two components: impairment and risk. Impairment includes the frequency of symptoms, nighttime awakenings, interference with normal activities, short-acting beta-agonist (emergency medication) use, and lung function. Risk includes the frequency of asthma episodes, and the frequency of treatment-related side effects. An essential part of asthma self-management is the use of prescribed medications to prevent asthma symptoms (controller medications) and relieve sudden asthma episodes (reliever medications).
Tips to Control Asthma Symptoms
- Reduce exposure to your triggers
- Understand and manage your allergies
- Work with your doctor to create an Asthma Action Plan
- Use maintenance/controller medications daily, as recommended by your primary care provider
- Keep your routine asthma wellness visits with your primary care provider and review your Asthma Action Plan
- Know your symptoms and early warning signs of an asthma episode
- Complete the Asthma Home Environment Checklist to identify and address triggers inside your home that could cause and an asthma episode
- Ask your primary care provider about participating in asthma self-management classes
For more information on asthma self-management resources, please email [email protected].
Additional Resources
Become an Certified Asthma Educator
Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma (EPR-3)
To connect with free or low-cost local services that support chronic disease prevention, access to healthy food, healthcare, and social support programs please select the link: GA DPH FindHelp.
*Last reviewed 4/14/26