If you or your child have asthma, you are highly encouraged to seek at least a consult from a doctor who specializes in treating asthma, such as an allergist, immunologist, or pulmonologist. These types of doctors are most likely to be up to date on asthma treatment guidelines. In other words, they'll know the greatest and latest in asthma care.

At their annual meeting last week, the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology unveiled a web-based tool designed to help doctors track and manage patients with asthma. Called Asthma IQ, the tool offers a 6-step asthma management plan based on the latest asthma clinical guidelines.

The 6-step approach heps doctors to:

• Assess asthma symptoms
• Reduce asthma risk factors
• Select the most appropriate asthma treatments
• Educate you

Doctors who use Asthma IQ are guided through the guidelines' six steps as they enter your data into a series of on-screen forms.

Many elements of Asthma IQ are automated and graphical, and should guide your doctor to objectively develop your asthma treatment plan based on your symptoms and your risk factors. Plus, it will help the doctor to see your progress (or decline) over time, which will help with modifying treatment.

Doctors will also be able to achieve continuing education credits for using Asthma IQ, which may help encourage them to use this free tool. If you're seeing an allergist, consider discussing Asthma IQ with him or her.

Learn More:
Watch the video announcement:

Check out Asthma IQ
Choosing a Doctor