Asthma review

What is an asthma review?

It is important to have regular asthma reviews with your doctor. An asthma review is a check-up with your doctor, nurse practitioner or pharmacist practitioner to ensure your asthma is well controlled.

The National Asthma Council recommends having a review (or check-up) every year to:

• talk about your symptoms and if anything has changed
• review your medication to ensure you’re on the right treatment
• check your inhaler technique to ensure you’re using it correctly, so the medication reaches your lungs
• review and update your asthma action plan.

Check your asthma control

With regular reviews and good management, people with asthma can lead normal, active lives.

For good asthma management, it is important that you:

• understand what triggers your asthma (this can be different for everyone)
• try to avoid or reduce your exposure to these triggers
• see your doctor for regular check-ups and work together to manage your asthma
• follow your personal written asthma action plan, developed with your doctor
• use your medications as instructed by your doctor, even when you feel well
• make sure you are using your inhaler (puffer) correctly.

People with asthma sometimes also have other linked chronic respiratory conditions, such as allergic rhinitis (hay fever) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). If you have allergies or COPD as well as asthma, it is important to treat the symptoms of both conditions, as treating one can help you manage the other. 

Find out more: Asthma triggers

Is your asthma under control?

In an asthma review, your doctor will ask you a set of health questions used to help measure your asthma control (asthma control test). This includes asking about symptoms during the previous 4 weeks:

• How many days per week you have asthma symptoms.
• How many days per week you use your reliever for asthma symptoms.
• If your normal activities like work, school or sport were affected due to asthma.
• If you had any asthma symptoms during the night or when waking up.
• If you smoke or vaping or are exposed to passive smoking.
• Other lifestyle risk factors that may affect your asthma.
• If you are having any side effects from your current asthma medicines.

Find out more: Questionnaire based tools used by health professionals

Good asthma control means having all of the following:

• No night-time asthma symptoms.
• No asthma symptoms on waking.
• No need for reliever medication.
• No restriction of day-to-day activities.
• No days off school or work due to asthma.
• No asthma attacks or flare-ups.

Don't let yourself get used to poor asthma control.

Regularly waking from asthma symptoms or using your reliever medication more than 2 to 3 times a week (except before exercise) should not be a ‘normal’ part of having asthma.

If this sounds familiar, see your doctor for an asthma review.