Asthma Self-Management Education | Vermont Department of Health

Asthma Self-Management Education | Vermont Department of Health
CLOSE
Translations for you
Asthma Self-Management Education
Asthma & Lung Disease
Asthma Basics
Asthma Self-Management Education
Asthma-friendly Schools
School Nurse Asthma Resources
Secondhand Smoke & Asthma Triggers
Using the Vermont Asthma Action Plan
State Partners
Asthma Self-Management Education—or AS-ME for short—is an extra layer of education and support for people with asthma and their families, especially those with a history of uncontrolled asthma. AS-ME courses, which are offered in a variety of settings, strive to:
Educate people about asthma.
Build up their skills for keeping asthma well-managed.
Provide tools to assess their own asthma control and determine whether it is well-controlled or poorly controlled.
Completing a full AS-ME program is shown to improve asthma control, reduce missed school and workdays, and prevent asthma-related emergencies and hospital stays.
Sign up to complete Vermont's “Brief AS-ME” course
This course can be completed in two 30 minute sessions or four 15 minute sessions, and can help you to develop knowledge, skills and self-assessment abilities in the following areas:
Asthma Basics
Asthma Medications
Asthma Triggers
Asthma Management
For children 4-11 years old and/or their caretakers, a comparable course is available called "Pediatric AS-ME.”
Click the links above to learn more about these topics. Or contact the Asthma Program to sign up for one of these AS-ME courses: Email:
[email protected]
Asthma Basics
Asthma is a chronic (long term) condition that affects the airways in the lungs. The airways are tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, the airways can become inflamed and narrowed at times. This makes it harder for air to flow out of your airways when you breathe out. The lungs can also fill with mucus making it hard to breathe in or out.
Tip #1: Get a proper diagnosis and understand your treatment plan
Having a proper diagnosis and treatment plan for asthma is crucial and can save your life. If you think you or a family member has asthma see your health care provider as soon as possible and talk with them about your symptoms.
A treatment plan includes what medications to take and when, and includes regular visits with your primary care doctor to monitor your asthma condition.
Asthma Medications
Most asthma treatment plans include prescription medications that fall into two main categories:
Quick-relief medications – often referred to as “rescue” inhalers that should be taken as-needed. They are sometimes referred to as bronchodilators. These work in a short period of time to open or relax the airways for better airflow.
Long-Acting Medications – an inhaled medicine known as a steroid that works to reduce inflammation and mucus build-up. These are taken daily for an extended period of time.
Tip #2: Continue to use your medications as prescribed by your healthcare provider, even when you feel good.
Long-acting medications are the key to keeping your asthma in the green zone. If you frequently use a quick-relief inhaler to treat symptoms, your asthma isn't under control. Follow your Asthma Action Plan and notify your health care provider to get back into the green zone.
Asthma Triggers
Asthma “triggers” are certain factors that can cause a reaction in the airways of people with asthma. Triggers can be the common cold or other respiratory viruses, certain cleaning products, allergens, air pollution, tobacco smoke, wood burning, weather, strong emotion and activities that make it harder to breathe. Triggers are unique to each person, so it is important to pay attention to the things around you that could cause your asthma to “flare.” A good first step is to identify and reduce your triggers.
Common triggers in Vermont include:
Environmental Factors/Risks
Certain Circumstances
Pollen
Pet Dander
Dust Mites
Gas stove and other fuel fumes
Wood burning
Smoke and vapors
Strong smells, scented candles and perfumes
Chemicals such as cleaning products
Moisture and mold
Cockroaches and mice droppings
Catching th common cold or COVID-19
Exercise
Pets in the bedroom
Carpet in the bedroom
Extreme heat and cold
Stress and strong emotions
Seasonal changes that might interact with allergies
Smoking and vaping
Wood burning
Tip #3: Eliminate at least 1-4 personal asthma triggers from your home, school and workplace.
Here are several resources to help you do this:
Download our
Asthma Triggers brochure
and start to identify your top triggers.
Download the EPA’s
Home Characteristics and Asthma Triggers Checklist
and use it to locate asthma triggers in your home.
Complete an ENVISION Environmental Walkthrough at your school (available as a
dynamic online tool
or as a
printable checklist
).
Read these impact stories of how other families removed asthma triggers.
Read Jacob's Story
Read Megan's Story
Read Ellie & Drew's Story
Asthma Management
While asthma is a life-long (chronic) condition the symptoms can be managed and are often reversible. Keep your asthma well-controlled to live an active, healthy life with asthma.
Get an
Asthma Action Plan
every year
This is a user-friendly version of your treatment plan to help you manage changing asthma conditions, keep family and caretakers informed, and keep you in the green zone of well-controlled asthma.
Tip #4: Develop these 3 main skills to keep your asthma well-controlled.
Confirm you are using your device properly with a “show back” to your doctor.
Know your personal triggers and work to eliminate as many as possible, and talk with your doctor about those you can’t avoid.
Maintain good communication with your doctor, school nurse, family members and coach about your asthma, especially around what to do in an emergency. For example, share your Asthma Action Plan with them.
Other health behaviors that help control asthma
These behaviors support good asthma control and a healthy, active life:
Visit your primary care doctor regularly.
Talk with your doctor about continuing the activities and exercise you love.
Avoid tobacco smoke and vapors by making your home and car smoke-free.
Learn more about Secondhand Smoke.
Keep pregnant and new moms away from tobacco smoke and vapors. This can prevent new cases of asthma and protect moms and other children.
Keep pets out of the bedroom.
Get a flu shot every year.
Contact the Asthma Program to sign up for one of these AS-ME courses at
[email protected]
February 20, 2024