A 28-year-old patient with asthma reports using her albuterol inhaler almost daily and experiences nocturnal symptoms approximately three times a week. She denies any emergency department visits or hospitalizations for asthma. What is the most appropriate next step in her asthma management?
✓ Correct Answer: Option C
This patient exhibits symptoms of persistent asthma (daily SABA use, nocturnal symptoms >2x/week), indicating her asthma is not well controlled with SABA alone. The next step is to add a low-dose inhaled corticosteroid as controller therapy.