1. Track your symptoms

Write down your symptoms in an asthma diary each day. Recording symptoms can help you recognize when you need to make treatment adjustments according to your asthma action plan. Use your asthma diary to record:

• Shortness of breath or whistling sounds when you exhale (wheezing).
• Disturbed sleep caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing.
• Chest tightness or pain.
• Quick-relief (rescue) inhaler use — record when you need to use your quick-relief inhaler, such as albuterol (Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA, ProAirHFA), and write down how many puffs you take.
• Disruptions to work, school, exercise or other day-to-day activities caused by asthma symptoms.
• Asthma symptoms during exercise.
• Changes in color of phlegm you cough up.
• Hay fever symptoms such as sneezing and runny nose.
• Anything that seems to trigger asthma flare-ups.