As part of the Know Your Asthma Score & Expect More campaign, the American Lung Association is recommending the new, scored Asthma Control Test (ACT) for all asthma patients 12 years and older. The test is a 5- question assessment tool, which provides physicians and patients a simple yet highly predictive tool they can use to help assess asthma control. The questions included in the test are based on measures of asthma control established by the National Institutes of Health.

The total ACT score is based on a range of 5 to 25. A score of 19 or less may be a sign that asthma symptoms are not under control. If patients score 19 or less, they should meet with their physician to discuss their ACT results and ensure they are properly controlling airway constriction and inflammation. Experts also recommend that even if patients score >20 they should talk with their physician about their results to help improve their asthma.

"People's lives do not need to be so impacted by their asthma—it's important for patients to take the ACT and talk to their doctor about the level of symptoms they are experiencing,"said Norman H. Edelman, MD, chief medical officer for the American Lung Association (ALA).

The ALA and GlaxoSmithKline are working together on the campaign to promote asthma awareness. For a free copy of the ACT test, visit www.asthmacontrol.com, or call 800-990-4100.