From SanoLabs, the makers of the Sam app
Support a parent with asthma without taking over
Supporting a parent with asthma means knowing the doctor's emergency plan, helping with the diary and inhaler if they want that, and preparing the appointment together.
What can you do, concretely?
- Ask about the asthma action planIt sets out what to do when symptoms flare. Ask to be shown where it is kept.
- Get to know the inhalersWhich one is the reliever, which the daily medication? The practice explains, you just ask.
- Keep a diary togetherCough, breathlessness, triggers, reliever use. If your parent needs it more often, call the practice together.
- Offer to remind about check-upsA fixed date in the calendar takes one worry off your parent.
What can you say?
You could say Do you know where your action plan is? I would like to know it too.
You ask for yourself, not as a check.
You could say Want me to remind you about the check-up?
One small, clear task.
You could say If you need the inhaler more often, we call the practice together.
You agreed the route beforehand.
Sam for your parent
An asthma diary and report for the check-up
Your parent notes in Sam what happens and takes the history along as a report. The reliever and the daily preventer stay separate.
- Attacks and reliever useAn attack, a puff of the reliever or unclear symptoms: one short entry with strength, trigger and date.
- Reminders for the preventerThe daily preventer medication gets reminders, kept apart from the reliever. The practice sets the plan.
- Doctor report as a PDFThe report sums up attacks, reliever use and preventer medication for 1, 3, 6 or 12 months, or the whole record.
- Share what they chooseWith Care Circle your parent shares attack and reliever entries. You see them read-only, and you both need Sam.
Logged attacks2
Reliever-use days3
Nights woken by symptoms1
Doses taken as scheduled24 of 28
A summary of your own entries. Your doctor interprets it.
The check-up with a history
Instead ofguessing from memory how often the inhaler was needed
In SamPuffs and attacks are in the diary with dates.
Instead ofa slip of paper where reliever and preventer get mixed up
In SamBoth recorded separately, with reminders for the preventer.
Instead ofasking yourself how the week went
In SamYour parent shares entries, and you see them read-only.
Sam records what your parent enters; it does not detect attacks, and the assessment is up to a doctor.
Questions adult children ask
EmergencyWhen should I get help right away?+
This is general safety information, not a diagnosis. It does not tell you whether your parent has a health condition. These signs need help right away:
- Severe breathlessness: only single words or short sentences are possible
- Very fast, labored breathing
- The reliever does not help or symptoms get worse
- Lips or skin turn pale, blue or grey
- Breathlessness and no reliever inhaler at hand
In these cases get help now: call your local emergency number (112 in the EU, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US). Do not use this list to decide on your own whether something is wrong.
What can Sam do for asthma, and what not?+
Sam keeps what your parent logs. Sam does not detect or predict an attack, and an Apple Watch does not measure lung function.
How often is too often for the reliever?+
The practice can give you a number. If your parent needs the inhaler more often than usual, that is a reason to call them.
What is an asthma action plan?+
A written plan from the doctor on what to do when symptoms flare. It belongs at every asthma appointment.
Should I decide myself what to do in an attack?+
Follow the action plan. If it gets worse or the reliever does not help, get help right away (see the first question).
Does Sam replace the doctor?+
No. Sam is a wellness companion, not a medical device. A doctor makes the assessment.
Sources
Last updated: October 2026
Go to the appointment with a diary, not gaps
Sam keeps attacks and reliever use and sums up the chosen period as a doctor report.
Sam is a wellness companion, not a medical device. Sam does not detect asthma attacks or measure lung function, does not diagnose or treat anything and does not replace a doctor. For acute symptoms call your local emergency number (112 in the EU, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US).