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| Asthma - the importance of keeping a daily asthma diary |
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Written by The National Asthma Campaign and Dr Martyn R Partridge, consultant physician
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Why should I keep an asthma diary?
Managing your
asthma is not just
about taking the
correct medication
and following dosage instructions. This is of course the most important part of
keeping your asthma well controlled but it is by no means the only thing you
can do.
You can help yourself take control by avoiding triggers that
tend to bring on your asthma symptoms.
Asthma is a variable condition and no two people's asthma is
likely to be identical. That is why it is important to learn all you can about
your asthma and your personal triggers. Sometimes it can be difficult to
identify exactly what triggers your asthma. A trigger may be obvious, such as
symptoms starting shortly after coming into contact with a
cat or a dog. At
other times some detective work is needed and this is where keeping a daily
asthma diary can help.
What is involved in keeping a daily asthma diary?
An asthma diary can be as simple or as detailed as you wish.
However, the more detail you include, the more use it will be not only on a
personal level, so you really learn about your own asthma, but also for your
doctor or practice nurse.
The more information you provide to your health professional,
the better they are able to more accurately tailor the treatment to your
needs.
The ideal diary
It is important to keep a record of your:
-
peak flow readings
-
symptoms
-
medication
-
daily activities.
Your peak flow readings
A peak flow is a measurement of how hard you blow air in and out
of your lungs. You get this reading by blowing into a small plastic tube called
a peak flow meter.
Most adults and children over six years of age can use a peak
flow meter. The meter has a marker, which slides up the scale as you blow out.
The better controlled your asthma, the harder you'll be able to
blow out and the higher your peak flow scores will be.There are different types
of sizes of
peak flow meters for
adults and children if required.
Measuring your peak flow is important because:
-
you can tell what is going on in your airways rather than just
guessing by the way you feel.
-
you can find out if the treatment is having the effect it
should.
-
you will know whether you need to change your
treatment.
-
your doctor or practice nurse will be able to see how well you
have been.
Your symptoms
It is a good idea to keep a record of your symptoms and whether
they get better or worse. Note the times when your symptoms are worse and
anything you think may have triggered them. This will help you establish
exactly what your triggers are and take measures to avoid the things that bring
on your symptoms.
If you notice any of the following, then you should see your
doctor who can help you to bring your asthma back under control:
-
waking at night with coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or
tight chest.
-
increased shortness of breath on waking up in the
morning.
-
needing more and more reliever treatment, or if the reliever
treatment does not seem to be working well.
-
having difficulty keeping up with your usual level of activity
or exercise.
Your medication
It is important to record both the medication you take and the
times that you take it. This includes both your asthma medication and anything
that you buy over the counter. This will allow you and your doctor or practice
nurse to see:
-
how well controlled your asthma is.
-
how effectively the medication is controlling your
asthma.
-
whether or not you need to increase or decrease your
medication.
-
whether or not you are sensitive to certain over-the-counter
medicines.
Your daily activities (specific activities to include)
You may find it useful to record daily activities and the effect
they have, if any, on your asthma. Again this will give a clearer picture of
how well your asthma is controlled. For example, you may feel that your asthma
is well controlled but notice you have difficulty when running for a bus. Or
your asthma may worsen when you exercise.
Your doctor or practice nurse will then be able to give you the
advice you need to be able to continue with these activities.
Keeping a note of all of the above will help give a very clear
indication of how good or bad your asthma is and what activities or triggers
affect you. Your doctor or practice nurse will then be able to develop a
written self-management plan tailored to your individual needs.
A self-management plan details the best treatment for you and
tells you when to adjust it, which may be an increase or reduction of
medication - the plan can help you manage your own condition. Scientific
studies have shown that people with asthma who follow a written self-management
plan have better control of their asthma and experience fewer asthma
attacks.
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Last updated 16.02.2005
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