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MONDAY, Aug. 30 (HealthDayNews) -- More than 70 percent of Americans with mild to moderate asthma who are taking medication to control their condition don't know about national treatment guidelines, according to a survey from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI).

Those guidelines can help people quickly gain control of their asthma symptoms.

The online survey of 1,944 adults with mild to moderate asthma also found that more than 50 percent of them weren't aware that once their asthma seems to be under control, they need to talk with their doctor about their symptoms to determine how to adjust their treatment.

"Successful asthma management begins with good communication between a patient and a physician on the guidelines," Dr. Gillian Shepherd, a clinical associate professor of medicine at Cornell University and past chair of the AAAAI public education committee, said in a prepared statement.

"This dialogue helps a patient better understand their asthma, what the treatment course is and whether they are being 'stepwise' about their asthma. Asthma symptoms can change, and patients need to work with their doctors to make sure they are taking the right medication for their symptoms," Shepherd said.

The survey is part of the AAAAI's national "Be Stepwise About Asthma" educational program. It includes a brochure called "Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Stepwise about Asthma" that provides patients and caregivers information about treatment guidelines and questions to ask their doctors.

The brochure is available free by phoning 1-800-822-2762.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about asthma.

(SOURCE: American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology, news release, Aug. 24, 2004)

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