To take care of asthma, you work with a clinician on a plan built around your history and testing, and you reduce the things that set your symptoms off. Plans can change as your symptoms change, so ask how often yours will be reviewed. If you searched for a specific clinic, check that clinic’s own website.
What is asthma care, and what is an asthma care plan?
Allergy & Asthma Care, P.A. in Kansas City describes asthma as “a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways found in individuals of any age.” The practice adds that asthma may be ongoing and quite severe, or mild enough to affect you only at certain times or in certain situations. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) explains that inflammation is “a reaction to injury of the body,” with swelling, redness, or pain. In asthma, the NHLBI asthma research page links the inflammation of the airways to the shortness of breath people feel.
The Allergy & Asthma Center of Las Vegas describes its process as starting with “a thorough history of your concerns” that leads to “an individualized evaluation and treatment plan customized to your health goals.” Ask your clinician what your own plan includes, and whether it will be written down for you to keep at home.
Plans also need review. The NHLBI page notes that “many people have asthma that is difficult to control, even after adding new medicines or increasing dosage.” Ask your clinician how often your plan gets checked.
How do I take care of my asthma day to day?
Day-to-day care has a few parts. Here is how each one is described by the sources below.
| Care step | What it involves | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosis and testing | Needle-free scratch testing, patch testing, blood testing, oral challenges and spirometry | The Allergy & Asthma Center of Las Vegas lists these methods on its website. Lung health and breathing tests explains spirometry. |
| Medicines | Oral medications, prescription inhalers and biologic injection therapies | Listed by the Las Vegas center. The NHLBI page is the source for the point that some asthma is difficult to control even after new medicines are added. |
| Allergy shots | Immunotherapy, sometimes called allergy shots | The NAEPP working group reviewed “the role of immunotherapy” in its 2020 focused updates, according to the NHLBI asthma research page. |
| Trigger control | Reducing exposure to indoor allergens and secondhand smoke | The same NAEPP update reviewed “the effectiveness of indoor allergen reduction.” The myHealthfinder quit-smoking page from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says secondhand smoke can cause “severe asthma attacks” in babies and children. |
| Education | Handouts and tips for talking with your provider | NHLBI’s Breathe Better program offers “a series of asthma handouts for patients and caregivers, including tips for talking to a healthcare provider.” |
Triggers are personal, so a good first step is naming yours. Our asthma triggers guide covers causes, relief and safety. If indoor air is part of your concern, our air purifier for asthma guide looks at the evidence, room size and safety.
If you smoke or vape, you are not alone, and relapse is a normal part of quitting. Tell your clinician what you use, because it belongs in the plan. The myHealthfinder page adds that “e-cigarette aerosol is not harmless” and can contain “heavy metals and chemicals that can cause cancer.”
What do I do during an asthma attack, and when do I call 911?
Our asthma attack symptoms guide lists the signs to watch for. Keep this one line in mind: if breathing is getting worse fast, or an attack is not easing, call 911 or get emergency care now. Do not wait to see if it passes.
Ask your clinician to write down, in your care plan, what to do during an attack and whom to call. That written page is the thing to reach for when you are short of breath and cannot think clearly.
Does urgent care treat asthma?
It depends on the clinic, so call ahead. Ask whether they see asthma flare-ups and whether they can give asthma treatment at the same visit. For a severe attack, go to emergency care rather than waiting for an urgent care slot.
What asthma treatments are offered, and what is still in research?
The Allergy & Asthma Center of Las Vegas lists oral medications, immunotherapy, prescription inhalers and biologic injection therapies. Our asthma inhaler types page explains the main inhaler groups. Research is also testing new options. Here is where the NHLBI’s asthma research page places them, as of October 2026. Which of these is approved for your situation is a question for your clinician.
| Option | Where it stands | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Prescription inhalers | Listed as an option by the Las Vegas center | The NHLBI page notes that many people’s asthma is hard to control, even after adding new medicines. |
| Allergy shots (immunotherapy) | Listed by the Las Vegas center; reviewed by the NAEPP in 2020 | Whether they suit you is a clinical decision. |
| Niclosamide, repurposed | Research. An NHLBI-funded project supports reformulating an oral drug approved by the FDA and used as an anti-helminth for decades, so it can be given inhaled | The NHLBI says this “may lead to new therapeutic approaches.” It is not a standard option. |
| Azithromycin for preschool wheezing | An NHLBI-funded study of children seen in the emergency room for severe wheezing | The NHLBI says “it is unclear if the beneficial effects are due to the antibacterial activity of AZ or to its anti-inflammatory activity.” |
| PrecISE trials | Clinical trials at 30 locations testing five new or approved treatments matched to a patient’s biology and biomarkers | Aimed at severe asthma or asthma that has not responded to traditional treatment. Our surrogate endpoints explained (our research library) page covers why a measurable sign is not always the outcome that matters to you. |
What is not known yet is the main point. The newer options listed here are still in research, and the NHLBI says its work aims to “discover better prevention and treatment options for asthma.” Ask your clinician which options are approved for your case and which, if any, you might discuss as part of a study.
What does asthma care cost?
Ask for a cost estimate before a visit or test, and ask your insurer what is covered.
Access rules can affect cost. Allergy & Asthma Care, P.A. says it asks patients to confirm coverage with their plan, because “some HMO plans may no longer be in network or may require a referral from a primary care physician.” If you change plans while on a biologic or infused medication, the practice says it will need new prior authorizations, which “may take additional time to process.”
Can I manage asthma on my own?
You are a big part of your own care, and it helps to have support. The Breathe Better handouts are written for patients and caregivers. Allergy & Asthma Care, P.A. says its staff includes “University Trained and Certified Asthma Educators” to help patients. Do not change or stop a prescribed medicine on your own; ask your clinician first.
What should I ask at my asthma visit?
Bring this list to your first visit:
- Which tests will you use to confirm asthma, and why those tests?
- What goes in my written asthma care plan?
- What should I do during an attack, and whom do I call?
- Does waking up at night matter for my asthma?
- If my treatment seems less effective, what happens next?
- Is the clinic in my network, and do I need a referral or prior authorization?
- What is the estimated cost of the visit and tests?
I searched for a specific clinic. Where do I find its details?
Each clinic’s own website lists its hours, patient portal and insurance rules. The Kansas City practice, for example, asks patients to pre-register, scan insurance cards and confirm demographic information each year. Start there for anything specific to one clinic.
By SmokersLung.com Respiratory Health Education Team
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your doctor or qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.