Diabetes

Kids' Asthma Journal

Do you want to have better control over your asthma? Put it in writing! By following the examples below, you can use a journal to track day-to-day changes in your asthma. The information helps you and your healthcare provider take better care of your asthma. Have a parent, caregiver, or healthcare provider help you complete the journal.

Make copies of this page before you write on it so you can use it again!

Starting date: ____________________

Symptoms

Check the boxes below to show when you had symptoms.

	Coughing	Wheezing	Breathing problems	Chest tightness
Sunday a.m./p.m.	/	/	/	/
Monday a.m./p.m.	/	/	/	/
Tuesday a.m./p.m.	/	/	/	/
Wednesday a.m./p.m.	/	/	/	/
Thursday a.m./p.m.	/	/	/	/
Friday a.m./p.m.	/	/	/	/
Saturday a.m./p.m.	/	/	/	/

Peak flow

Some kids use peak flow meters to measure how well their lungs are working. Write down your peak-flow numbers for the green, yellow, and red zones:

Green means doing well—Good.
Yellow means getting worse—Caution.
Red means severe symptoms—Danger.

Then using the chart below, write each peak-flow reading on the matching zone line. Your healthcare provider can help you understand your numbers and tell you what to do about yellow and red readings.

Green. Your peak flow is more than _________

Yellow. Your peak flow is between _________ and ______________

Red. Alert! Your peak flow is less than _______________

	Green	Yellow	Red
Sunday a.m./p.m.	/	/	/
Monday a.m./p.m.	/	/	/
Tuesday a.m./p.m.	/	/	/
Wednesday a.m./p.m.	/	/	/
Thursday a.m./p.m.	/	/	/
Friday a.m./p.m.	/	/	/
Saturday a.m./p.m.	/	/	/

Peak flow monitoring: Color zone system

Green. Airflow is 80% to 100% of your personal best. Based on your Asthma Action Plan, no changes are needed in your treatments or activities.
Yellow. Airflow is between 50% to 80% of your personal best. Based on your Asthma Action Plan, you may need more medicine or treatments.
Red. Airflow is less than 50% of your peak flow. Based on your Asthma Action Plan, your parent contact your healthcare provider, go to the emergency room, or call (signs of respiratory distress) if your peak flow readings stay below 50% even with treatments.

Call 911

Call 911 or seek medical help right away if:

Directed by your Asthma Action Plan. For example, Quick relief medicines are not helping.
Breathing, coughing, and wheezing are getting worse after taking medicines or using an inhaler
You feel drowsy, disoriented, or confused
You have trouble walking or talking