With careful management you can keep your asthma under control. The key is to identify what triggers your attacks and, where possible, to remove them from your life. You may also need to make some lifestyle changes that will help keep you on top form.

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Here is you checklist.

Step 1. Have you been diagnosed?
If not:
1. Do you have any symptoms of wheezing, coughing, chest tightness or breathlessness during the day, even if only twice a year?
2. Do you sometime wake up at night coughing, or with chest tightness or have difficulty sleeping because of these symptoms? Do wake up feeling that you might breathe better if you sit up, even only once a year?
If you answer yes to any of these two questions, consult your doctor.

Step 2. Know you asthma
The frequency and severity of your asthma symptoms will determine your asthma category, and this in turn will determine your treatment. Click here to identify you category and treatment.
Click here for a comprehensive guide to treatment of all categories.

Step 3. Take your medication as prescribed.
1. If your doctor has prescribed daily treatment (and he will if you have asthma symptoms more than twice a week or more than twice a month), stick to it. It is very important to take your inhaled corticosteroid daily as prescribed even if you feel better and have no asthma symptoms. The inhaled corticosteroid is the reason your symptoms are less severe and less frequent.
2. Use your bronchodilator inhaler if and when needed. Rather use it too soon and more often than too late or not at all.
Take action when warnings signs appear and don't panic. You know what to do, so get on calmly and do it.

Step 4. Do not underestimate the severity of your asthma.
Rather use your bronchodilator inhaler too soon or more often than too late or not at all. Learn more about an asthma emergency. Make sure your family and friends know what to do if you are in distress.

Step 5. Monitor the frequency of your asthma symptoms.
If you need to use your bronchodilator more often or feel the relief is not as effective as you hope it to be, consult your doctor.
He might step up your medication, by either adding medication (temporary), increase the dose of your inhaled corticosteroid, or prescribe oral cortisone for 7 - 10 days to bring you asthma under control as quickly as possible.
Keep a diary to help your monitoring.

Step 6. Use a peak flow meter if you have Moderate or Severe Intermittent Asthma (Categories 3 and 4).
Using a peak flow meter to monitor your lung function, can help you take the right action when and as needed. Learn more about a peak flow meter.

Step 7. If you get asthma symptoms when exercising.
Use your bronchodilator inhaler before exercising and warm up slowly.
Exercise outdoors during hot weather and indoors on cold days.
If you exercise outdoors in cold weather, tie a bandana round your face to cover your mouth and nose - this will help to warm the air before your inhale.
Although exercise may trigger an asthma attack, it also helps strengthen the lungs, which in turn can help prevent asthma symptoms.
Wear a scarf around your face on cold days.

Step 8. Identify your asthma triggers and try to avoid them.
Try to identify your asthma triggers by:
1. Keeping a diary of your asthma symptoms. This can also help you to monitor the frequency of you asthma symptoms as in Step 5. Take note of what you eat, the weather, when you've taken medication, exercise, and possible allergens.
2. Get tested: a skin prick test (SPT) or blood test (RAST) can be used to identify asthma allergens in people from the age of 6 months.
Common asthma triggers include house-dust mites, pollens, animal dander, cockroaches, tobacco smoke, perfumes and even cold air.
Click here to learn more about the common triggers and how to avoid them.
Click here for more information on on house-dust mites and steps to control house-dust mites.

Step 9. Give your body a fighting chance
Boost your immune system by healthy eating, getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of liquids, and exercising regularly.

Step 10. Watch out!
1. Are you very stressed? Stress is a common asthma trigger. Practice relaxation techniques such as visualisation, yoga or meditation.

2. If you're prone to heartburn, don't eat or drink within three hours of bedtime. Raise your head in bed. For persistent heartburn, consult your doctor.

3. Establish if aspirin and other drugs spark symptoms in your case. This may happen in some sensitive people. Check with your doctor or pharmacist about the asthma risk of every medication you take.

Visit Health24's Allergy Centre

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