It’s Time for Your Annual Asthma Review
We are inviting you to arrange your annual asthma review with one of our Practice Nurses.
Please telephone the practice on 0345 33 70 710, Monday to Friday, to arrange your appointment.
Why Is an Asthma Review Important?
Asthma can change over time, so regular reviews are important.
Your asthma review helps us make sure that:
- You are taking the right medicines.
- Your medicines are being taken in the correct amounts.
- Your treatment is helping you manage your asthma effectively.
- Any changes needed to your asthma treatment can be discussed.
Many things can affect asthma throughout the year, including work, weather, age, and stress levels. Your review gives us an opportunity to make sure your treatment continues to meet your needs.
Asthma Reviews and Your Birthday Month
We now invite patients for their asthma review during their month of birth.
If you have already had your asthma review this year, please disregard this invitation. You will be routinely recalled next year during your birthday month.
What Will Happen During Your Review?
Your asthma nurse will:
- Ask about your asthma symptoms.
- Review how well your asthma is controlled.
- Check your peak flow reading to assess how well your lungs are working.
- Check your inhaler technique to ensure you are receiving the correct dose of medication.
- Discuss your current asthma medicines and make any necessary changes.
- Discuss any asthma-related concerns you may have.
Please Bring With You
Please bring:
- All inhalers you currently use.
- Any spacer devices you use.
- Your written asthma action plan (if you have one).
Why take the Asthma Control Test?
The Asthma Control Teat will provide you with a snapshot of how well your asthma has been controlled over the last four weeks, giving you a simple score out of 25. Asthma symptoms can vary from month to month, so it is worth keeping the test handy to see if your score changes. You can also share your results with your doctor or asthma nurse to help explain just how your asthma affects you.
Are you in control of your asthma? Or is your asthma in control of you? Here’s how to find out:
Step 1: Read each question below carefully, select your answer.
Step 2: Add up each of your five scores to get your total Asthma Control Test score.
Step 3: Use the score guide to learn how well you are controlling your asthma.
After submitting your questionnaire, please contact the practice on 0345 33 70 710 to arrange your asthma review appointment if you have not already done so.
Understanding Your ACT Score
- 25: Well done – your asthma appears to have been under control during the last 4 weeks.
- 20 to 24: Your asthma appears to have been reasonably well controlled during the last 4 weeks.
- Less than 20: Your asthma may not have been controlled during the last 4 weeks and should be discussed with the asthma nurse.
Written Asthma Action Plan
A written asthma action plan is a step-by-step guide to help you manage your asthma and recognise when your symptoms may be getting worse.
If you already have an asthma action plan, please bring it to your appointment so it can be reviewed and updated if necessary.
If you do not have an asthma action plan, you can download one from Asthma + Lung UK:
https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/
Do You Have Any Concerns?
Your appointment is also an opportunity to discuss any concerns about your asthma.
For example:
- Difficulties remembering to take your medicines.
- Problems using your inhalers.
- Ongoing symptoms.
- Questions about your treatment.
