In order to gain or keep control of your asthma, it is essential to monitor asthma symptoms. Just as in business where there is an adage stating “that which cannot be measured, cannot be changed,” you will have difficulty getting control of your asthma if you do not monitor asthma symptoms.
In my practice I often find patients who do not understand how important it is to monitor asthma symptoms on a regular basis. Adult patients who regularly monitor asthma symptoms use less medication and have fewer emergency room visits compared to patients who do not monitor their asthma symptoms. Pediatric patients who frequently monitor asthma symptoms miss less school and have fewer symptoms compared to children who do not monitor asthma symptoms or peak flows. The key in both adults and children is having an asthma action plan to monitor asthma and then take appropriate action.
Your doctor may base your action plan on either asthma symptoms or peak flows. Research has shown that both improve asthma control, but neither method is clearly superior. In both systems you will record data daily and take actions base on your written action plan.
Learn More About Peak Flow Meters
Using a peak flow based action plan, you will record your daily peak flows and take actions such as increase or decrease use of your rescue medication. Recording your peak flows, following your asthma action plan closely, and bringing your recorded peak flows with you to your doctor’s visits are essential for this to work.
- Why Is Peak Flow Important For My Asthma?
- Learn To Appropriately Use Your Peak Flow Meter
- What Should My Peak Flow Be?
- Determining Your Personal Best Peak Flow
You Can Also Monitor Asthma Based On Symptoms
With a few simple questions you can determine your asthma control. Peak flows require some amount of physical coordination and can be especially difficult for young children.
In patients who do not want to use peak flows or cannot learn to use them appropriately, your doctor can ask a series of questions related to your asthma and base treatment on your answers. This provides a very individualized approach to your asthma. Every asthma patient is different so you and your doctor can discuss how to best monitor asthma symptoms on an individual basis and decide appropriate action plans. Some symptoms may include:
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Sleeping problems
- Poor performance at work or school
- Ability to exercise
- Frequency of rescue inhaler use
By discussing which of these symptoms is most bothersome or limiting to you, you and your doctor can come up with an asthma action plan that is individualized to you and your asthma.
Whether your asthma action plan is based on peak flows or symptoms, it is essential you monitor your asthma in order to get it under control.
Sources:
Yawna BP. Factors accounting for asthma variability: achieving optimal symptom control for individual patients. Primary Care Respiratory Journal (2008); 17(3): 138-147.
K.L. Letz, A.R. Schlie, W.L. Smits. Pediatric Asthma, Allergy & Immunology. Fall 2004, 17(3): 177-190.
