Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Asthma

• Do I use my inhaler correctly? (Show the doctor how you use it.)
• How often should I use this inhaler and under what conditions should I increase the use?
• What is the maximum number of times in one day that I can use this inhaler?
• How many puffs should I administer each time I use the inhaler?
• If propellants in this inhaler irritate my lungs, should I use a nebulizer instead?
• What is a peak flow meter, how does it work and should I have one at home?
• When should I call my doctor? When I am short of breath? Wheezing? Have a rise in temperature? At the onset of yellow phlegm? At the signs and symptoms of a cold or sore throat?
• When should I go to the emergency room?
• Do I need a steroid inhaler?
• What type of foods or environment should I avoid?
• Will exercise have an effect on my asthma?
• What are the side effects of my medication?
• If I am using a steroid inhaler, should that increase the number of times I see the doctor?
• What precautions can I take in cold weather to avoid severe reactions to the temperature?