Not All Wheezes Are Asthma   Your asthma may be diagnosed by your personal or family doctor, or by an asthma specialist such as an allergist or a pulmonary (lung) physician. The important thing is that the symptoms of asthma be recognized early and dealt with effectively. The longer you wait, the more permanent may be the damage to your lungs. Because symptoms vary widely from patient to patient, the severity of your asthma must be determined in order to develop the best treatment plan. The latest guidelines issued by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's National Asthma Education and Prevention Program classify asthma into four categories: mild intermittent mild persistent moderate persistent severe persistent Once asthma is diagnosed, aggressive treatment is recommended to gain quick control of your asthma. Regardless of the severity of the condition, the goals of the asthma treatment are the same: control of symptoms and a normal lifestyle. An effective treatment plan will: end coughing, wheezing, and breathlessness, especially at night and in the morning enable you to participate in all normal activities, including sports and exercise avoids emergency room visits or hospitalizations avoids possible side effects of asthma medication meets your goals for a good quality of life The effective treatment plan is one that controls and manages asthma.   Asthma Classifications Classification Symptom Nighttime Symptom Lung Function Mild Intermittent • Symptoms less than twice a week • Normal peak/flow between episodes • Episodes brief&emdash;from a few hours to a few days&emdash;intensity may vary Less than twice a month • Peak/flow greater than 80% of predicted • Peak/flow variability less than 20%   Mild Persistent • Symptoms less than twice a week. • Episodes may affect activity Less than twice a month • Peak/flow greater than 80% of predicted • Peak/flow variability between 20%&emdash;30% Moderate Persistent • Daily symptoms • Daily use of inhaled, short-acting medication • Episodes affect activity • Episodes more than twice a week; may last days More than once a week • Peak/flow greater than 60% but less than 80% of predicted • Peak/flow variability more than 30% Severe Persistent • Continual symptoms • Limited physical activity • Frequent episodes Frequent • Peak/flow less than 60% predicted • Peak/flow variability greater than 30% The characteristics noted are general and may overlap between categories. The presence of ONE of the features of severity is sufficient to place a patient in that category. An individual should be assigned to the most severe grade in which ANY feature occurs.   ABOUT THIS PROGRAM | UNDERSTANDING ASTHMA MANAGING YOUR ASTHMA | CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA | FOR MORE INFORMATION | MAIN PAGE   BACK TO HEALTHWORKS © 1998 Prairie Public Broadcasting, Inc.