• You experience asthma symptoms, like tightness in your chest or shortness of breath, more than twice a week
• Your coughing wakes you at night, one to three times a week
• You have some limitation in your daily activities (including exercise) because of your asthma symptoms
• Your lung function, as measured by your peak flow monitoring, is between 60 and 80 percent of your personal best peak flow
• You are using your rescue inhaler more than 2 days a week
• You experience asthma attacks two or more times a year

Uncontrolled asthma may be associated with:

• Learning disabilities in children and lower school performance in school
• Decreased ability to exercise and participate in activities due to daytime asthma symptoms
• Sleep deprivation due to ongoing nighttime asthma symptoms
• Increased risk of getting pneumonia and having more asthma attacks following upper respiratory tract infections
• Adults having problems with focused attention and concentration
• Increase in the number and severity of asthma attacks
• Airway narrowing and loss of lung function, and possible mechanical ventilation
• Decrease in the physical fitness of children
• Higher risk of obesity in children
• Greater health risks to mother and baby during pregnancy
• Death
• Increased risk of developing stress, anxiety disorders, and depression

You can take steps to help manage your asthma:

• Follow your asthma action plan created with your doctor
• Take your medicines as instructed by your doctor
• Use your peak flow meter to regularly monitor how well you are breathing
• Go to your asthma checkups to determine your how well your asthma is controlled
• Know your symptoms and what triggers them
• Avoid triggers in and around your home*
  • Dust, animal dander, cockroaches, mold and pollen
  • Cigarette smoke, air pollution, strong chemicals and fragrances
  • Some medicines, like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and nonselective beta-blockers
  • Sulfites found in food items and beverages
  • Upper respiratory infections, like colds
  • Excessive physical activity

*This list does not include all asthma triggers.