ON THIS PAGE
- Who might be on my asthma care team and how will they help me manage my asthma?
- What is an Asthma Management and Action Plan (Asthma-MAP) and why do I need one?
- What are some things that can trigger my asthma symptoms?
- Can I exercise when I have asthma?
- Are there foods that can help me manage my asthma?
- What else can I do to manage my asthma?
Working with your healthcare team
Your healthcare team can teach you how to manage your asthma symptoms. People on your asthma healthcare team may include:
- Your primary care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner)
- A respirologist (doctor specializing in lung health)
- A nurse
- A pharmacist
- A certified asthma educator (CAE) or certified respiratory educator (CRE)
What’s a CAE or CRE?
Certified asthma educators and certified respiratory educators are respiratory therapists, nurses, pharmacist, or physiotherapists who have special training to teach people about asthma. They are experts at explaining how asthma affects you and what you can do about it. To find a Certified Asthma Educator or Certified Respiratory Educator, ask your primary care provider or look for an asthma education clinic near you.
Making the most of your appointments
We can help you have more open conversations with your healthcare provider about your asthma and make the most of your appointments, with suggestions for what you can do before, during and after.
Recording your asthma symptoms—whether they’re new symptoms or ones you’ve had for a while—may give your healthcare provider a more complete picture of how asthma is affecting your life, and how to best treat and manage your asthma. Use this list to show your healthcare provider information about how you’ve been doing since your last visit.
Since your last appointment, have you:
- …noticed any changes in your asthma symptoms?
- …had asthma symptoms during the daytime more than twice a week?
- …been woken up at night by your asthma symptoms?
- …had any concerns about taking your current asthma medications as prescribed?
- …had any challenges in taking your controller medications every day?
- …used a reliever (rescue) inhaler more than twice a week?
- …been limited in what you can do at work, school, or at home because of your asthma?
- …done limited physical activity because of your asthma?
- IN THE LAST YEAR, have you had an emergency visit with a healthcare provider due to asthma? This includes a visit to the emergency department or admission to hospital.
Make notes of any challenges you have had managing your asthma including any other health symptoms changes that may or may not be related to your asthma. Examples include allergies, changes with your skin, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) or rhinitis (inflammation of the nose).
Before your appointment, write down the answers to the questions below. Share it with your healthcare provider to give them a more complete picture of the impact asthma is having on your life. Be honest with your answers.
- I’ve tried to manage my asthma in the past in the following ways:
- I am worried about:
- If my asthma were better controlled, I could:
- My long-term treatment goals are:
- Other concerns I have are:
Ask your healthcare provider (or team member) to:
- talk to you about your asthma medications,
- show you how to take your inhalers and
- help you complete (or update) your asthma action plan.
An asthma action plan is a step-by-step guide. It tells you what symptoms to look out for and how to adjust your medications according to your symptoms. If you do not have an asthma action plan, speak to your healthcare provider to ensure they provide you with one.
Write down answers to the questions that you ask your healthcare provider. Other questions you may want to ask include:
- How can I better control my asthma?
- What type of asthma do I have and how can it affect me?
- Should I use a peak flow meter?
- What diet and exercise regimen do you recommend for me?
- How can I avoid or reduce exposure to my personal asthma triggers?
- What about triggers I cannot easily avoid?
- What can I do when my asthma is especially difficult to manage?
Continue to keep track of your symptoms, for example by using a peak flow meter. Make notes of any challenges you have or changes you notice. Then, revisit and complete these activities before each appointment and share the information with your healthcare provider.
Asthma action plans
An asthma action plan or asthma management and action plan (or asthma-MAP) is a personalized asthma tool that can help you achieve and maintain good asthma control.
An action plan is provided as a template. To create your action plan, you fill out this template with your healthcare provider or another member of your care team. You can record the type and amount of medication you take every day to stay well and keep your asthma well controlled. Your asthma-MAP also tells you:
- Signs and symptoms that mean your asthma is getting worse
- How to adjust your reliever and controller medication when this happens
- When to seek help/medical attention
Asthma-MAPs are typically divided into three sections:
- a green section where you record what “normal” is for you,
- a yellow section will list signs of a bad day that could indicate a flare-up and what you should do when this occurs, and
- a red section will help you identify when you need urgent medical attention.
Print an action plan template for your child’s asthma
Print an action plan template for adult asthma
Asthma triggers
Triggers are things that can make your asthma symptoms worse or cause an asthma flare-up. Triggers can cause airway swelling, increased amounts of mucus (phlegm) and tightening of the muscles around your airways. This can lead to worsening of your asthma symptoms. What triggers asthma symptoms is different for each person.
Asthma symptoms can be triggered by allergens or irritants. Irritants are things in the air that could bother anyone, like tobacco smoke or cleaning product vapours. For many people, allergens(things you’re allergic to) can cause asthma symptoms. The effects of allergens and infections can last longer and can be more severe than the effects of irritants. Other things, like viral infections like a cold or flu, hormones, stress or exercise can trigger your symptoms.
If you are allergic to something, your body’s immune system overreacts to the allergen by causing inflammation (swelling) and airway narrowing. This can trigger your asthma. Although food allergies are not a common trigger of asthma, what you eat can have an impact on your asthma symptoms (see “Asthma and nutrition” for more information).
Pets/animals
Animals shed hair, feathers, and dander (dandruff) regularly. The dander, urine and saliva of animals can be allergens. Since all furry animals have dander and all birds have feathers, there is no such thing as a non-allergenic furry or feathered pet.
Pollens and moulds
Pollens and moulds are common allergens that can trigger asthma. Moulds can grow indoors in damp places, such as bathrooms, basements, humidifiers, air conditioners and around windows. Outdoor moulds are common in the spring, summer and particularly in the fall, until after the first frost. Tree pollen is common in the spring, grass pollens are high in early summer and ragweed is common from late summer until the first frost.
Dust mites
Dust mites are microscopic creatures that feed mainly on the tiny flakes of human skin that people shed each day. They live in mattresses, pillows, bedding, carpeting, plush furniture and stuffed animals and in almost every home, no matter how clean it is. Dead dust mites and their waste are common allergens or triggers for asthma. Using mite-proof mattress and pillow covers, washing blankets and sheets in hot water and vacuuming mattresses regularly can help reduce the number of dust mites you’re exposed to.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches thrive in damp areas where food waste has not been removed, such as in kitchens. Cockroach feces, saliva and body parts can trigger an allergic reaction in people.
Irritants are things that commonly cause respiratory symptoms in individuals even if they don’t have asthma, things like smoke or strong chemical smells. There are many possible irritants where people live and work that can trigger asthma symptoms.
Indoor irritants
Indoor air pollution can be just as bad as, if not worse than, outdoor air pollution. The following indoor air pollutants can trigger asthma symptoms:
- Gas ranges
- Tobacco smoke
- Cleaning products with strong smells
- Permanent markers
- Wood smoke (fireplaces, wood stoves),
- Scented products
Outdoor irritants
- Traffic-related air pollution
- Air pollution from industry or manufacturing
- Cold, dry air
- Hot, humid weather
- Smoke from forest fires, wood burning, or backyard burning.
Make it a habit to check the Air Quality Health Index before spending time outside. Depending on the forecast and information available, you may want to adjust your outdoor activity.
Viral respiratory infections
Viral respiratory infections cause asthma to flare-up in both children and adults. Some viral respiratory infections, like influenza, also cause pneumonia. To help avoid catching a viral infection, you can:
- Follow public health guidelines to lower your chance of infection.
- Wash your hands regularly, and properly for a minimum of 20 seconds with soap and water.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Avoid visiting people who you know are unwell with cold, flu, or another virus.
- Keep your vaccinations up to date, including your influenza (flu), pneumonia, RSV and COVID-19 vaccines (as recommended by a healthcare provider).
Hormones
Speak to your healthcare provider about a plan for your asthma if you notice your symptoms change monthly, or you are pregnant.
Emotional stress and exercise
These should not trigger asthma symptoms if your asthma is in good control. Speak to your healthcare provider if you are having symptoms during stress or with exercise.
Exercising with asthma
You should NOT avoid exercising. Exercise provides many health benefits, including maintaining or improving your lung function and symptoms. It’s also important for your overall health as it boosts your immune system, strengthens muscles (including breathing muscles) and helps to maintain a healthy heart and weight.
By being aware of your triggers and your health, you can exercise safely and effectively with asthma. There are no specific types of sports or exercises that you should avoid. However, if you have any concerns about exercising with asthma or find that you regularly experience symptoms when exercising, consult your healthcare team for advice.
Tips for exercising with asthma
Remember to speak to your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns.
Before you exercise, make sure your asthma is under control. Do not exercise if you are having more asthma symptoms than usual. Let your healthcare provider know if you have asthma symptoms with exercise and need your reliever (rescue) inhaler more than twice a week for exercise. Having symptoms during exercise more than twice a week could be a sign you need more controller medication.
Make sure the time is right.
- Exercise when you are well. Avoid exercise if you have a cold, flu or other viral illness.
- Pay attention to the air quality. There is a direct link between air quality and asthma symptoms. Check the Air Quality Health Index if you plan to exercise outdoors. Avoid exercising outside if you have pollen allergies and the pollen count is high.
- Avoid exercising in extreme temperatures (hot or cold) if they trigger your asthma symptoms.
Be prepared.
- Ensure you have taken your asthma medication as prescribed.
- Always carry your rescue/reliever inhaler with you when exercise. Keep your asthma action plan nearby.
- Stay hydrated before, during, and after exercise.
- Warm up for at least 15 minutes at half your maximum intensity and cool down for 15 minutes at the end of the exercise.
If you begin to have asthma symptoms when exercising, stop immediately and use your reliever (rescue) inhaler. Wait to see if your symptoms improve.
If your symptoms fully resolve, you can slowly warm up and begin exercising again. If they do not improve, take another dose of your rescue inhaler. Wait a few minutes to see if your symptoms improve.
If you are still experiencing asthma symptoms, and they are not improving with the use of your rescue inhaler, then call 911. Keep taking your blue rescue inhaler every few minutes until medical assistance arrives.
Asthma and nutrition
Although there is no established “asthma diet”, it is well known that what you eat can affect your immune system and inflammation, both of which are involved in asthma symptoms.
Research has shown that diets rich in fruit, vegetables, whole grains, fiber and unsaturated fat (a plant-based diet, for example) are associated with reduced asthma symptoms and greater asthma control. Consuming a lot of salty foods, saturated fats and trans-fats can have the opposite effect.
In addition, studies have shown that certain foods can help support lung function, particularly those rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin D and magnesium. Research is also being done into the effects of vitamin C on asthma.
There is some evidence that food containing sulfites (found in foods like dried fruits, wine, beer and processed potatoes) can make your asthma worse. If you have a specific food allergy, it could also interfere with your asthma. Therefore, it is advised to avoid any foods you are allergic to, even if you’re only mildly allergic.
Obesity is also a risk factor for serious asthma exacerbations (flare ups). Maintaining a healthy body weight can reduce the risk for asthma and help with managing symptoms. Plus, eating a balanced diet of fresh, whole foods is beneficial for your overall health.
If you would like to learn more about balanced diet, make an appointment with a registered dietitian. Remember to speak with your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns.
“