Check your asthma flags
Wondering whether your asthma is under control? This short quiz will walk you through the Red and Yellow Flags checklist developed by Asthma Canada.
START QUIZ
My asthma causes frequent visits to the ER, or a stay in the hospital
YES
NO
1/15
Which of the following points apply to your asthma? Check all that apply YES/NO
I use my rescue inhaler for two or more puffs per week (excluding before exercise)
2/15
I’ve taken more than two courses of steroids in a year to manage it
3/15
I sometimes feel that it controls my life no matter what I do
4/15
I have frequent flare-ups, attacks and severe symptoms
5/15
I feel that my asthma could kill me
6/15
I have been absent from work, school or other activities because of my asthma
7/15
My asthma wakes me up at night more than once per week
8/15
I am over-reliant on my asthma caregiver
9/15
My asthma has a negative impact on my family or my relationships
10/15
I can’t be as active as I want or keep up with my peers because of my asthma
11/15
I prioritize my reliever medication over asthma controllers
12/15
I have at least one symptom of other serious disease listed below
Chest pain Increased breathlessness Inability to walk up stairs Feeling of an elephant on my chest Coughing that prevents me from continuing my activities Constant wheezing Fatigue
13/15
I’ve been diagnosed with at least one of the following conditions that can make asthma worse or harder to control
Nasal polyps Chronic sinusitis or rhinitis Anaphylactic food allergy Obesity Obstructive sleep apnea or sleep disordered breathing Gastroesophageal reflux Upper airway dysfunction or other respiratory conditions Psycho-social factors such as stress, anxiety, or depression
14/15
I experience too many negative side effects from medications including:
15/15
Weight gain Irritability Mood changes Facial swelling Insomnia
According to your answers to this quiz, your asthma is under control. Congratulations! If your asthma management ever changes, please take this quiz again to find out if you should seek help from your health care provider.
RETAKE QUIZ
PRINT/SAVE RESULT
According to your answers to this quiz, you have one or two yellow flags. Yellow flags are also indicators of uncontrolled asthma, but taken individually, they may not be as serious as a red flag. They still warrant a conversation with your health care provider. It would be a good idea to schedule an appointment with your health care provider to review your asthma action plan, discuss whether you are taking your medication as prescribed, and have your inhaler technique reviewed.
Make sure your breathing has been measured (through spirometry) Watch you use your inhaler to check your technique Discuss whether you are taking your medication as prescribed Discuss if you should be referred to a specialist
According to your answers to this quiz, you have three or more asthma yellow flags. These are indicators of uncontrolled asthma. Taken individually, they may not be as serious as a red flag, but three or more is a sign that your asthma is not controlled. You definitely need some help to make sure you are managing your asthma properly and would most likely benefit from seeing a specialist. We recommend that you schedule an appointment with your health care provider. Tell them about your symptoms and ask them to:
RESULT 2
https://asthma.ca/yellow-flag-result/
RESULT 4
According to your answers to this quiz, you have asthma red flags, which should not be ignored. They are clear signs that your asthma is not controlled. You definitely need some help to make sure you are managing your asthma properly and would most likely benefit from seeing a specialist. We recommend that you schedule an appointment with your health care provider. Tell them about your symptoms and ask them to:
RESULT 5
