Asthma is a major challenge for many Tennesseans. More than 11% of Tennessee adults—about 560,000 people—live with asthma. Many don’t always take medication as prescribed. In fact, experts estimate that daily controller inhaler use can be below 50%.

“Asthma causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways in the lungs, making it harder for people to breathe,” says Dr. Bertram Prosser, a medical director with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. “But you have to take your asthma medication. It’s much like keeping up with repairs on your home to keep it in good working order.”

3 reasons to follow asthma medication orders

Dr. Prosser: Here are important reasons that you need to take your asthma medications exactly as your doctor prescribed them:

1. Your medications work together to help keep you healthy

Many people with asthma need to use a long-term “controller” medication to control chronic symptoms and prevent asthma attacks. They will also likely need a quick-relief, or “rescue,” medication like albuterol to provide quick relief or treat an asthma attack. Your doctor will develop an asthma action plan to help you understand when you need to use both of them. The goal is to help you control your symptoms and stay out of emergency situations.

Think of controller medications like preventive maintenance on your car. You use them to avoid breakdowns. Meanwhile, rescue medications are like roadside assistance. They’re for when you need them for an unexpected problem, but you don’t want to rely on them every day.

2. Your daily medication can help prevent long-term inflammation

If you skip a dose of daily controller medicine, you might not notice any symptoms. But this can be misleading. You might start thinking it’s not a big deal, but long-term effects can result. Controller medications work to reduce inflammation in your lungs over time. Skipping doses reduces the anti-inflammatory effect. And your airways can become more sensitive and prone to irritation.

Over time, skipping doses can lead to changes to your airways that can’t be reversed. This can make your asthma harder to manage and possibly lead to a decline in lung function.

3. You’re more vulnerable to asthma triggers without consistent medication

If you don’t take your controller medication consistently, you may be more susceptible to asthma triggers. These can cause asthma attacks.  Asthma triggers vary from person to person. Common triggers include allergies, poor air quality, mold, stress, and some medication. A common cold or a whiff of pollen can set off an asthma attack that your body is no longer prepared to handle.

How to stay on track with your medication

Dr. Prosser: You may need help to make sure you take your medications correctly. Your health care provider can teach you how to take them. That’s especially important for inhalers. How you administer the medication matters. If how it’s administered is off, you may not get all the medication you need. Ask your provider to demonstrate how to use an inhaler and make sure you’re doing it right.

You can also develop good habits to make sure you always take your medication. You can “stack” habits by taking your medication when you do another task, like brushing your teeth or eating breakfast.

The goal for taking asthma medication is control. You want to get to the point where you have minimal to no symptoms and very rarely need to use your rescue inhaler. You want to have good lung function and no limitations on your daily activities.

“By embracing asthma medications as a vital part of your routine, you’re not just taking medicine, you’re working to take control of your asthma,” says Dr. Prosser. “This can help protect your breathing and your health.”

More from Dr. Prosser on WellTuned

Get more information about specific health terms, topics and conditions to better manage your health on bcbst.com. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee members can access wellness-related discounts on fitness products, gym memberships, healthy eating and more through Blue365®. BCBST members can also find tools and resources to help improve health and well-being by logging into BlueAccess and going to the Managing Your Health tab.