Asthma

Severity of Asthma Symptoms

Asthma signs and symptoms range from mild intermittent asthma to severe persistent asthma. This varies from person to person. Asthma is classified into the following categories of severity*:

Mild Intermittent Asthma – includes having mild symptoms, 2 or fewer times per week, and nocturnal awakening fewer than 2 times per month.

Usually treated with a short acting quick relief medication used on an as needed basis is recommended for this degree of severity.

Mild Persistent Asthma - includes having asthma symptoms more than 2 times per week, nocturnal awakening more than 2 times a month (but less than 1 time per week).

Usually treated with a short acting quick relief medication used on an as needed basis and a long term controller – low dose of inhaled corticosteroid is recommended long term medication for this degree of severity.

Moderate Persistent Asthma – includes having asthma symptoms daily and nocturnal awakening more than 1 time per week.

Usually treated with a low to medium dose of inhaled corticosteroid together with a long acting bronchodilator are the preferred therapies

Severe Persistent Asthma – these patients have symptoms that include asthma symptoms continuously and frequent nocturnal awakenings, and are potentially limited in their physical activity

Usually treated with a high dose of inhaled corticosteroid together with a long acting bronchodilator are the preferred therapies

Patients with severe persistent asthma who difficulty managing their symptoms despite the use of high dose corticosteroids typically have chronic limitations on their physical ability and require frequent bronchodilator use. These patients must seek out an asthma specialist to try and minimize their symptoms and their need for oral corticosteroids.

Severe asthma attacks may be life threatening! If your asthma is not relieved by quick relief medications, seek emergency help immediately; call your physician, health care provider or 911 right away. Signs of a severe asthma attack that may need emergency treatments include:

Respiratory distress at rest
Difficulty in speaking in sentences
Diaphoresis (excessive sweating)
No improvement even after using short-acting bronchodilators
Agitation – rapid worsening of shortness of breath or wheezing
The presence or intensity or wheezing is an unreliable indicator of the severity of an attack.

*Please see your doctor for your diagnosis since each classification is measured by the symptoms experienced as well as by tests performed only by your physician or health care professional.

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