Module 2

One of the most important aspects of your asthma self-management is understanding your medications and the proper use of your medication delivery devices. First, we will discuss the 2 main types of asthma medications known as:

      1.  Controller medications 

• Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS) **Important: Take your control medications as your first line of defense in order to control swelling in the airway. The long term controller medications will help prevent symptoms before they start.
• Other important things to remember: Controller medications 1) will not help an asthma flare-up after it has already started, 2) are not addictive, and 3) must be taking daily, even when you feel good.

      2.  Quick relief medications

• Bronchodilators should be used in addition to your ICS's and not as the main medication for your asthma. Also, bronchodilators may be used as the medication treatment for exercise induced asthma. Quick relief medications 1) are used once symptoms begin to get worse, 2) should always be carried with you, and 3) should NOT be used more than two times per week.

TO DO:

• For more information, please click the following link: http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/asthma/taking-control-of-asthma/understand-your-medication.html
• Now, you should create your own medication schedule. You should fill in the schedule with your medications, what days, when, and how much is taken. After you have completed the medication schedule and/or created your own, you may print the medication schedule
• After you have reviewed videos about your medications and their delivery devices, take the Know Your Medications Quiz before moving on to Module 3.
• Test your asthma knowledge: