Self-management and monitoring

Research has shown that if you take an active part in your asthma management, you are likely to benefit from the following:

Improvement in asthma control leading to reduced asthma symptoms
Increased satisfaction knowing that you can play an important part in keeping your asthma in check

The more you know about your asthma and how to recognise when your asthma is worsening and when to seek help the better. It is a good idea to speak with your GP/ practice nurse about creating a tailored action plan to help you self-manage your asthma. There are several other excellent personal action plans available, including one produced by Asthma UK

Using a peak flow meter

A peak flow meter measures peak expiratory flow [PEF](i.e. how hard and quickly you blow air out of your lungs in a certain amount of time).

If you have a peak flow meter, it is a good idea to know your personal best peak flow reading. This is your highest peak flow value over a 2-3 week period when you are experiencing good asthma control. You should take the best of three consecutive readings. If you do not have a peak flow meter, then your doctor or asthma nurse may be able to prescribe or supply you with one.

If your asthma symptoms worsen, it is useful to check your peak flow reading and the result of this reading (as a percentage of your average personal best), together with the changed symptoms you are experiencing will guide the actions you should take, according to your action plan:

What to do in an emergency

Call your doctor immediately or dial 999 (or 112) for an ambulance if you have the following problems:

You have great difficulty breathing, talking or walking and your symptoms are getting worse quickly
You are getting little or no effect from taking your reliever medication
Your peak flow reading is below 50% of your personal best
You are feeling frightened because of your asthma

While you are waiting for help:

Try to stay calm
Sit upright
Take one puff of your reliever inhaler (e.g. salbutamol inhaler every minute via a spacer or use a nebuliser if you have one

Please click on the video links below demonstrating how to use your peak flow meter:

Using a peak flow meter:video 1

Education and understanding

A very important part of achieving the best asthma control possible is making sure that you have a good level of knowledge and understanding about your asthma. This should include understanding of:

Self-monitoring

Asthma is a variable condition and the degree of control you achieve will fluctuate from time to time- for instance, if you have a cold or come into contact with an asthma trigger. It is very important to be able to recognise when your asthma is becoming worse.

As well as a check on your peak flow reading when your asthma worsens, a useful exercise is to ask yourself the following 3 questions:

Have you had difficulty sleeping because of your asthma symptoms?
Have you had your usual asthma symptoms during the day?
Has your asthma interfered with your usual activities?

If you can answer "yes" to any of the questions, you should then ask yourself whether you, perhaps:

forgot to take your asthma medication as prescribed
have been exposed to something new (e.g. a potential allergen or a cold)

You may wish to complete the short daily assessment questionnaire to receive instant feedback on the level of asthma control you have today

Asthma reviews

Asthma is a very changeable condition and it is best controlled by having regular assessments with your GP or Practice Nurse to makes sure that your medication is still offering you the best control possible. People's asthma symptoms vary and regular reviews can identify any changes in your condition, highlight possible triggers and other factors that will help your healthcare team select a management approach particular to you and your condition.

If you have a few moments to spare, you might want to fill in our self-assessment questionnaire to give you an indication of how well controlled your asthma currently is. The questionnaire will take a few minutes to complete, but will give you an instant answer and customised feedback and advice on your individual lifestyle.