How Severe Is Your Asthma?

Asthma attack. Young woman reaching inhaler on table

If you have asthma, knowing its severity and its triggers is key in controlling your symptoms. Your allergist will determine these factors when recommending a treatment for you.

According to the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, which is an initiative under the National Institutes of Health (NIH), asthma is categorized as being intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent, or severe persistent. Each type differs from the others depending on the frequency of the symptoms, which are:

  • Chest tightness
  • Wheezing
  • Coughing
  • Difficulty breathing

Asthma severity is rated according to the frequency of your symptoms before starting treatment. Your doctor will perform lung function tests along the way to decipher whether the treatment is working – and if not, the doctor will likely try other types of treatment.

Types of Asthma

Let’s talk about the main categories of asthma and how each one is generally treated:

Intermittent Asthma

Asthma is considered intermittent if the symptoms occur only once or twice a week, and nighttime symptoms only once or twice a month. People with intermittent asthma experience no interference with their day-to-day activities.

Lung function tests show normal results when the asthma patient is not having an attack. A rescue inhaler is used about once or twice a week with intermittent asthma.

Mild Persistent

Asthma is mild persistent if the symptoms occur more than two days a week but not every day. The attacks may interfere with the patient’s daily activities.

People with mild persistent asthma experience more frequent nighttime symptoms than with intermittent asthma – between three to four times per month. A rescue inhaler must be used more than twice a week.

Moderate Persistent

Asthma is moderate persistent if symptoms occur every day. Nighttime symptoms tend to occur more than once per week. Since the symptoms are experienced daily, the patient must use their rescue inhaler on a daily basis.

Severe Persistent

Asthma is considered severe persistent if the symptoms occur every day and interfere with day-to-day activities. Nighttime symptoms occur almost every night in people with severe persistent asthma. Lung function tests reveal abnormal results, and the patient must use their rescue inhaler several times a day.

Asthma Treatment in Oak Brook, IL

Testing for a patient’s asthma severity is different for everyone. If you or your child is experiencing symptoms such as chest tightness, wheezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing, an allergist will be able to give you a precise diagnosis and treatment that properly addresses your specific symptoms. Without proper asthma treatment, the condition can develop into more severe respiratory complications.

If you have any questions or would like to have a medical evaluation of your breathing symptoms, contact Oak Brook Allergists today by calling us at (630) 574-0460 or by filling out our appointment request form online now. We have convenient locations in Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Naperville, and Plainfield. We look forward to helping you find a solution that works for you so you can enjoy life every day!