Once the doctor has obtained a detailed medical history, run some tests, and diagnosed you as having asthma, your asthma will be classified. This helps determine the treatment plan. There are four levels of severity:

Mild Intermittent:

• Day: symptoms twice a week or less
• Night: symptoms twice a month or less
• Spirometry results are at least 80% of normal

Mild Persistent

• Day: symptoms more than twice a week
• Night: symptoms are more than twice a month
• Spirometry results are at least 80% of normal

Moderate Persistent

• Day: symptoms occur every day
• Night: symptoms are more than once a week
• Spirometry results are between 60% and 80% of normal

Severe Persistent

• Day: symptoms are continual every day
• Night: symptoms are frequent
• Spirometry results are 60% or less of normal

In some cases, your doctor may use "peak flow" measurements to help assess your asthma severity instead of spirometry. Peak flow is a simple method of self monitoring that is described later.

Take note

Regardless of your asthma's classification, any single asthma episode can range from mild to severe. This is true for anyone with asthma.