Chronic condition care
Asthma
We diagnose and manage asthma long term. The goal is control: no waking at night, no limits on what you can do, and rarely needing your rescue inhaler. If you are using a rescue inhaler more than twice a week, your asthma is not controlled — and that is fixable.
Come in if you have
- You use your rescue inhaler more than about twice a week
- Asthma wakes you at night
- You avoid exercise or activities because of your breathing
- You have had a flare needing steroids in the last year
- You have never actually been shown how to use your inhaler
What happens at your visit
- We check how often you are using your rescue inhaler — the single most useful measure of control.
- We watch you use your inhaler. Technique is wrong more often than not, and it is the most common reason treatment appears to fail.
- We look for triggers, including allergies, reflux and the Inland Empire's air quality.
- You leave with a written asthma action plan — what to take daily, what to do when it worsens, and when to seek help.
Control is the goal, not just coping
A lot of people with asthma have quietly adjusted their life around it — avoiding stairs, skipping exercise, keeping a rescue inhaler in every bag — and consider that normal. It is not.
Well-controlled asthma means you sleep through the night, exercise if you want to, and rarely reach for the rescue inhaler. If that is not your experience, the treatment plan needs changing.
Bring your inhalers
Every visit. Not the box — the actual devices.
Inhaler technique is wrong extremely often, and when it is wrong the medication largely ends up in the mouth rather than the lungs. People conclude the drug does not work for them when the real problem is a fixable two-minute issue. We will watch you use it and correct it.
The action plan
You should leave with something written down covering:
- What you take every day, whether or not you feel unwell
- What to take when symptoms start
- What worsening looks like, and what to do about it
- The point at which you call us — and the point at which you call 911
Keeping that on the fridge does more good than any amount of verbal advice at an appointment you will half-remember.
Triggers worth chasing
Allergies are the most common and the most treatable. Reflux, certain medications including some blood pressure drugs, cold air, exercise, and air quality all matter. In the Inland Empire, summer air quality is a genuine factor and worth planning around rather than being surprised by each year.
Call 911 if
Your rescue inhaler is not helping, you cannot complete a sentence, your lips or fingertips look blue, or you are visibly struggling. Do not drive yourself.
Common questions
- How do I know if my asthma is controlled?
- A practical test — needing your rescue inhaler more than twice a week, waking at night because of it, or limiting activities all mean it is not. Well-controlled asthma should barely feature in your day.
- Do I really need a daily inhaler if I feel fine?
- If you have been prescribed a preventer, feeling fine is usually evidence it is working, not evidence you can stop. Asthma is inflammation that continues between flares. Stopping typically brings symptoms back after a few weeks.
- Is my inhaler technique really that important?
- Yes, and it is the most fixable problem in asthma care. A significant proportion of people use theirs incorrectly and get a fraction of the dose. Bring your inhalers to every visit and we will watch you use them.
- When is an asthma attack an emergency?
- If your rescue inhaler is not working, you cannot speak in full sentences, your lips or fingers look blue, or you are struggling to breathe — call 911. Do not drive yourself.
This page explains how we care for this condition at our office. It is general information, not medical advice for your specific situation — please talk to us about your own care.
Ready to get this looked at?
Call us or send a request and we will get you in — often the same or next day.