ASTHMA

Questions to ask;

            1.      Family history
            2.      Atopy?
            3.      Precipitants?
            4.      Medication and medication changes recently?
            5.      Hospital and ICU admissions?
            6.      PEFR?
            7.      FEV/FVC? (some patients may not know these)
            8.      How they monitor their asthma?
            9.      Do they have an action plan?
            10.    What is their follow-up?
            11.    How it impacts on their life functionally?

How to manage it? (Parrot back the National Asthma Plan)

            1.      Assess Severity
            2.      Optimise lung function
            3.      Maintain lung function through avoidance of triggers
            4.      Maintain lung function through medication
            5.      Develop and action plan
            6.      Education and regular review