Experts Release New Asthma Care Guidelines

Tuesday, November 13, 2007; 12:00 AM

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MONDAY, Nov. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Asthma control and prevention of attacks are the focus of new national asthma guidelines released by the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP).

The 23 million Americans -- including 6.5 million children -- with asthma can avoid serious symptoms and disability if they follow these latest guidelines to keep their asthma under control, said the experts who wrote the guidelines.

"Asthma is not an event, it is a chronic disease that can be managed so that symptoms are controlled and severe attacks are prevented," Dr. Michael B. Foggs, chief of asthma, allergy and immunology at Advocate Health Care in Chicago, said in a prepared statement. "The guidelines underscore the fact that people who are diagnosed with asthma do not have to suffer breathing difficulties or cut back on their activities. We want to make this a reality for all asthma patients."

The guidelines place a new emphasis on doctor-patient partnerships and ongoing asthma monitoring and management. Among the specific recommendations:

• All patients with asthma should be monitored by a doctor every one to six months, regardless of how severe their condition is and whether they are experiencing symptoms.
• Every patient should have a written asthma action plan with instructions for daily treatment and what to do if symptoms become worse. The action plan should be developed by a doctor or a nurse, with input from the patient, and shared with all those who interact with the patient, such as family members, teachers and coaches.
• Asthma care should include education that takes into account a patient's cultural background and literacy level. Patients should play an active role in managing their asthma.
• Asthma treatment based on severity is now classified in six steps, rather than the four steps used in previous guidelines. A stepwise approach is still recommended, with medication increased when asthma symptoms worsen and decreased, if possible, when asthma is under control.