Are you happy with your asthma doctor? If you do, excellent. Tell him or her. Alternatively, are you unsatisfied with your asthma doctor? That's too bad, but you should still let your doctor, or your parents, know that you're not happy about treatment. The truth is that your comfort with talking to your physician could be the difference between feeling fine and breathing poorly.

Communicating With Your Asthma Doctor

While healthcare providers have a wide variety of medical tests to diagnose and treat your ailments, they can't see what you're thinking. You as the patient are the main source of their information. Asthma Doctors find some of the most important facts about you by questioning you about your activities and symptoms you experience, even if some questions seem fairly odd ("Are there stuffed animals by your pillow?").

Asthma doctors are taught to identify symptom patterns that people without medical training don't normally recognize. The more thoroughly you answer your asthma doctor's questions, the more efficiently he or she will be able to judge your symptoms and provide the right kind of treatment.

Remember that communication is a two-way street. Your asthma doctor may not always know what questions will give him the best information, so it's up to you to fill the gaps. Let your asthma doctor know if:

Your medication is causing any bad side effects, such as fatigue, nausea, dizziness, or headaches. This might let your doctor know that another medication is a better option. Consult your asthma doctor before you stop taking any medication. You could trade in your side effects for a violent asthma episode.

You find that the amount of medication your asthma doctor prescribed isn't enough. The amount of medicine you are instructed to take depends on your asthma needs, but these needs have the ability to change as time passes. Your asthma doctor might prescribe an alternate medication, or alter your personal asthma management plan. Remember to always take your medicine in the doses prescribed by your doctor unless he or she alters the prescription.

As well as answering your asthma doctor's questions and monitoring your asthma symptoms, feel free to ask questions that you may have for the doctor. Several teens and adults feel awkward around doctors, and rather than asking important questions, they “chicken out.” Write your questions down and give this list to your asthma doctor when you first visit with him or her. Doing this can bring attention to your concerns without putting you on the spot. Recording questions can also help you understand why you might be uncomfortable with a new medication or treatment.