Asthma Cycle of Care
Asthma Cycle of Care
Having an Asthma Action Plan
Visit your doctor regularly
Asthma Cycle of Care
The Asthma Cycle of Care is a new approach to working with your GP to manage your asthma and replaces the Asthma 3+ Visit Plan.
It has been developed by asthma experts and is based on the latest knowledge about how to treat asthma most effectively.
It has been shown that people who learn and understand more about their asthma, who actively talk to their doctor about their asthma, who have an Asthma Action Plan and who take medications correctly:
- Have better control over their asthma
- Experience less attacks
- Have fewer days off work/school due to their asthma
This allows them to stay in the best of health at all times.
The Asthma Cycle of Care is targeted towards people with moderate to severe asthma. One or more of the following criteria classifies moderate to severe asthma:
- Use of a reliever medication (blue puffer) more than three times per week; or
- Wheeze or cough on most days or at night; or
- Often be short of breath; or
- Have frequent asthma attacks; or
- Sometimes go to hospital with bad asthma attacks; or
- Are on a preventer medication
The Asthma Cycle of Care involves at least 2 visits to your GP to solely discuss and manage your asthma, even when you are well. During the 2 visits, your Doctor will assess how severe your asthma is, discuss trigger factors, provide you with a written Asthma Action Plan, review your medications and further educate you on how to best manage your asthma.
The Asthma Cycle of Care is aimed at building a partnership between you and your doctor.
Further information about the Asthma Cycle of Care can be obtained from your GP, by visiting the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing website or by contacting the Asthma Foundation of WA on (08) 9289 3600. Take control of your asthma.
Having an Asthma Action Plan
An Asthma Action Plan helps you to recognise when asthma is getting worse and tells you what to do when this happens. The plan may need to be changed from time to time if your or your child's asthma changes.
An action plan should provide the following information.
- How to recognise worsening asthma
- What to do when this happens
- How to get medical help quickly
You need to have your action plan reviewed following an acute attack.
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Visiting your doctor regularly
Asthma is a condition that changes all the time. By visiting your doctor on a regular basis (at least every 6 months), even when you are well, you can ensure that you stay at your best and keep on top of your asthma.
Remember, you should be in control of your asthma, asthma should not be controlling your life!
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