Breathe Well, Live Well

Breathe Well, Live Well is the American Lung Association's adult asthma self-management program that teaches adults to take control of their asthma so they can be active and healthy.
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Watch this video from a Breathe Well, Live Well facilitator on her experience bringing the program to her community.

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About Breathe Well, Live Well

The Breathe Well Live Well program serves as the Lung Association's Signature Program for adult asthma self-management education that teaches adults to take control of their asthma so they can be active and healthy. The curriculum is based on national best practices for asthma care and is evidenced based. Breathe Well, Live Well is the only program available nationwide that has shown to result in less severe asthma, fewer respiratory problems, and a better ability to stick to treatment plans.

The program includes sections devoted to:

  • Understanding your asthma
  • Building your asthma support team
  • Taking asthma medications
  • Using tools for daily self-management
  • Following good health habits

In 2003, the American Lung Association, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center Environmental Health, adopted a validated asthma management education program for adults. The validated program was originally developed by the University of Alabama at Birmingham Lung Health Center. Results from the clinic-based intervention showed that a comprehensive effort to improve self-management practices of adults with asthma can substantially improve adherence to treatments. Two significant measures that showed improvements were decrease in severity of asthma symptoms and a decrease in the frequency of respiratory problems.

In 2004, the Lung Association adapted the program for use in a community-based setting and named it Breathe Well, Live Well: An Asthma Management Program for Adults. The program was designed for small group education and pilot tested in six areas: Tucson, Arizona; the District of Columbia; Jacksonville, Florida; Chicago, Illinois; San Diego and San Francisco, California. During the pilot, we assessed the process and feasibility of conducting the program in a community-based setting. Results from the pilot showed that the program was effective in increasing knowledge, confidence in managing asthma, and increased the frequency of asthma self-management practices. In addition, the program was well-received among participants and facilitators. Breathe Well, Live Well launched nationwide in January of 2007.

Breathe Well, Live Well was redesigned in June 2013 resulting in a self-paced guide, Breathe Well Live Well: The Guide to Managing Your Asthma at Home and Work.  The guide is the only comprehensive asthma education targeting adults and is designed to help them gain the skills and tools they need to take control of their asthma.

In 2017, the American Lung Association developed the Breathe Well, Live Well Facilitator Training in order to prepare health professionals to teach adults asthma self-management skills. There are four key learning outcomes. You will:

  • understand the impact of poor asthma control among adults,
  • be able to describe the treatment and prevention of asthma symptoms in adults,
  • learn how to explain the concepts of asthma self-management, and
  • be able to describe the evidence and evaluation of the Breathe Well, Live Well program.
  • Breathe Well, Live Well received a Silver Award for Patient Education from the National Health Information Awards in 2007.
  • Breathe Well Live Well: The Guide to Managing Your Asthma at Home and Work won Best of Show at the National Health Information Awards competition in 2014.
  • Breathe Well Live Well: The Guide to Managing Your Asthma at Home and Work won Gold Award at the National Health Information Awards competition in 2014.

Breathe Well, Live Well is nationally tested and proven to help reduce the severity of asthma symptoms and respiratory problems. The program is flexible in delivery format options to meet the educational and learning needs of participants. Studies show that after completing the program, participants:

  • experience less severe asthma symptoms,
  • have fewer respiratory problems and,
  • are better able to stick to their asthma treatment plan

Published in Health Promotion Practice (2020)
Breathe Well, Live Well: Implementing an Adult Asthma Self-Management Education Program

How to Start Your Own Breathe Well, Live Well Program

The American Lung Association offers a robust training experience and all the materials that adults or organizations need to facilitate Breathe Well, Live Well. The registration fee is $400 and includes:

Asthma Basics (online module)

Breathe Well, Live Well Facilitator Training (online module)

Breathe Well, Live Well Technical Assistance call with American Lung Association staff

Three-year certification with an option to recertify

Facilitator Demonstration Device Toolkit

Ten Breathe Well, Live Well Participant Workbooks

Breathe Well, Live Well Implementation Guide (In-person and Virtual)

Access to the Breathe Well, Live Well Facilitator Resource Center (online)

Facilitator engagement and networking opportunities

The Lung Association is partnering with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to provide Breathe Well, Live Well® to students who have asthma. The lessons learned aim to help young adults improve their asthma management and be their own health advocate as they live independently. Learn more about this initiative and how to bring it to your campus.

For any additional questions please email [email protected].

Page last updated: February 21, 2024

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