If bronchoprovocation tests indicate an asthma diagnosis, a physician may recommend several steps to treat symptoms of the disorder.

Once an individual has been diagnosed with asthma, a physician will develop an asthma action plan to help the patient monitor the condition. A typical plan will contain the following elements:

• A list of specific symptoms that often precede an individual’s asthma attacks
  
  
• Steps to take during an attack
  
  
• How to recognize a serious attack, and what to do about it
  
  
• How to recognize an emergency
  
  
• Changes in environment and behavior that can reduce the chances of an asthma flare-up

Current asthma treatment focuses primarily on preventing or reducing the inflammation process, and relaxing the smooth muscle that tightens during bronchospasm (narrowing of the airways caused by muscle contraction). Patients with mild intermittent or mild persistent asthma may receive a quick-relief medication to aid them when their asthma flares-up. Those with moderate or severe asthma are more likely to need both quick-relief and long-term-control medications.

There is no cure for asthma. However, there are several things that people can do to reduce the symptoms of asthma that make breathing difficult, including:

• Reducing exposure to environmental triggers, such as pollens, molds, secondhand tobacco smoke and animal dander.
  
  
• Leading a healthy lifestyle that includes proper rest, good nutrition and regular exercise.
  
  
• Taking all asthma medications as directed.
  
  
• Combating obesity. For reasons not fully understood, there appears to be a correlation between obesity and increased incidence of asthma. Obese individuals who lose weight often shed symptoms of asthma as well.