Four Categories of Asthma
These four categories are adapted from the NIH (National Institue of Health) guidelines and are used to describe the severity of an individual's asthma.
- A pulmonary function test greater than or equal to 80% of normal
- Daytime symptoms 2 times a week or less
- Nighttime symptoms 2 times a month or less
- Asthma episodes are brief and the patient is normal in between
- A pulmonary function test greater than or equal to 80% of normal
- Daytime symptoms greater than 2 times a week, but less than once a day
- Nighttime symptoms greater than 2 times a month
- Asthma episodes may affect activity
- A pulmonary function test greater than or equal to 60%, but less than 80% of normal
- Daily symptoms greater than 2 times a week, and which may last days. Use daily of a quick relief inhaler (reliever inhaler)
- Asthma episodes affect activity
- Nighttime symptoms more frequent than once a week
- A pulmonary function test of less than or equal to 60% of normal.
- Continual asthma symptoms
- Limited physical activity
- Frequent asthma episodes
- Frequent nighttime symptoms
