Asthma monitoring rooms are the best way to determine the status of asthma control. Good asthma monitoring helps to detect changes in your lung function in a timely manner and is important to prevent asthma attacks and maintain asthma control, where you will learn about.
What is good asthma control?
What causes poor asthma control?
What do you need to do to get good asthma control?
How to assess your asthma status?
How to use a simple asthma monitoring tool to monitor your asthma control?
How do you monitor your asthma using a peak flow meter?
What is good asthma control?
Good asthma control means that you.
Have no rapid cough, wheezing or shortness of breath most days (Q2/week)
Can exercise and feel well
Sleep through the night without a fast cough, shortness of breath or chest tightness
Are not unable to work or study because of asthma
Normal lung function results
Use asthma relief medication less than 2 times per week (not including 1 time before each exercise session)
What is the reason for poor asthma control?
Not applying the right asthma medication for you or using an inadequate dose of asthma medication
Using your inhaler the wrong way
Exposure to triggers that cause asthma
Symptoms are not caused by asthma and may be due to other health problems.
What do you need to do to get good asthma control?
Have an asthma control assessment and lung function test and show the results to your doctor to make sure your asthma is well controlled
Ask your doctor to check that you are using your inhaler correctly
Discuss your asthma triggers with your doctor and how to stay away from them
Post a note in a prominent place in your home to remind you to use long-acting control medications
Carry your quick-relief medication with you to ensure that it is easily accessible in case of emergency
See your doctor if you experience worsening or poorly controlled asthma symptoms
Discuss your asthma status with your doctor once every 6 months, even if you feel well
How do you assess your asthma?
It is important to keep a patient diary
Keeping a record of your symptoms and when and where your attacks occur and what you are doing at the time can help your doctor develop and adjust your medication plan accurately. ‘Asthma patient diaries’ are available from your asthma doctor.
Pulmonary function tests —– have regular pulmonary function tests
Peak flowmeters —— insist on daily monitoring of your peak flow rate values
Asthma Control Test (ACT) paper —— assessed monthly
Ongoing monitoring is important. It can help you maintain asthma control to find the lowest therapeutic dose; minimizing costs and maximizing safety while ensuring efficacy.
Typically, patients should be followed up after 2 weeks after the initial visit and every 3 months when the disease has stabilized
How do I use a peak flow meter to monitor my asthma?
Using a peak flow meter can help you monitor your asthma. The following items explain how to use the tachograph and record data.
Make sure the needle is pointing to zero (L/MIN).
Keep your fingers away from the scale and pointer slots while holding the peak flow tachometer. Do not block the hole at the end of the wind tachometer.
Stand up. Inhale deeply, place the peak velocity meter in your mouth, and keep the meter horizontal. Hold the peak velocity meter in your mouth with the mouthpiece so that it does not leak. Then, exhale as quickly and forcefully as you can.
Write down the number on the scale indicated by the pointer and return the pointer to zero (i.e. L/MIN).
This should be repeated three times to obtain a total of three readings, recording the highest of these values in the table.
Specific evaluation of peak flow rate values
Normal PEF is 80-100% of personal best, daily variability? 20%, this is the safe zone
Warning PEF is 60 – 80% of the personal best value, the daily variability is 20~~30%, warning the patient of a possible asthma symptom attack.
Danger PEF is less than 60% of personal best value, daily variability rate is ? 30%, patient’s asthma is obvious at quiet time, can’t move, can’t lie down, need to intensify treatment immediately or seek medical attention.