Asthma management tool

The article was written by Doctor Tran Thi Diem Trang - Respiratory Internal Medicine Doctor - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital

Asthma is not a rare disease, it is often assessed as causing many troubles in life. To help control the disease better, many people actively use today's popular asthma management tools.
To monitor the condition of blood pressure, patients must have their blood pressure measured every day, similarly, diabetics must be monitored blood sugar, urine every month, every week depending on prescribed by the treating physician. Thus, the patient has to go to the doctor or go to the laboratory to get the medical order. In recent decades, the advent of blood pressure monitors, automatic blood glucose measurement has helped patients check their own blood pressure and blood sugar, which has helped to monitor the pathology closely and conveniently. more beneficial.
For asthma, a peak flow meter helps the patient to monitor the level of asthma and develop a specific action plan. In addition, a number of world experts have jointly drafted and approved a set of ACT questions for asthma patients to answer, thereby self-assessing the level of asthma control.

Peak flow meters are used to monitor the variation of peak expiratory flow (PEF) over time. The peak flow meter is a simple, inexpensive, and easy-to-carry device. This device helps determine the flow of air from the lungs to the mouth (the simplest assessment of airway obstruction).
A tool for monitoring PEF variation over time is a mechanical or electronic peak flowmeter. In which case to monitor peak traffic?
1.1 Used to diagnose asthma With asthma symptoms + normal spirometry. Has asthma symptoms + spirometry cannot be measured. Diagnosis of occupational asthma: changes in PEF at work and at home. 1.2 Used to assess the level of asthma control Especially in asthmatic patients with poor recognition of asthma symptoms. 1.3 Develop an action plan How to use the peak flow meter:
The patient will be instructed to blow twice a day morning and night, 3 blows each time, then record the best results of the 3 blows on the chart follow. Record the results as directed by the physician and technician on the peak flow chart. Calculate the morning-afternoon PEF fluctuation by the formula:
PEF fluctuation = (Afternoon – Morning)/(Morning + Afternoon)

2. Significance of peak flow meter (PEF) Diagnosis of asthma in cases of suspected asthma but normal spirometry is based on: PEF morning-afternoon fluctuation > 20% - 30%. PEF fluctuations in days > 20% - 30%. Assess your asthma control:

ACT (Asthma Control Test) is a set of 5 simple questions about asthma status including daytime symptoms, nighttime symptoms, number of times of need for reliever inhalers and the impact of asthma on the patient's life. Each question is scored from 1 to 5. The patient will read each question and will choose the answer that best suits his or her medical condition. Each answer corresponds to 1 point. After answering 5 questions, add up the score of 5 questions.
Result :
25 points : your disease has been completely controlled, you have no symptoms and no longer have limitations due to asthma, you should maintain the dose of medicine you are taking, go to the doctor's appointment for a checkup. Reduce medication when possible. 20-24 points: asthma is well controlled but not completely controlled, should see a doctor by appointment to help you achieve complete control < 20 points: asthma is not controlled, the patient needs to see a doctor to receive an action plan to help you improve your current asthma control. Answering these 5 questions is relatively easy and convenient, helping patients self-assess their asthma status and also helping doctors adjust medication appropriately for the patient.
In order to protect everyone's health from asthma, Vinmec International General Hospital currently offers an Asthma Screening Package, the advantages of which include: Time to control and treat the disease Perform clinical examination, take medical history, measure respiratory function, otolaryngology examination and screening for bronchial asthma. In addition, with the above package, customers will be able to perform a number of examinations such as:
Pre-booked visits with an Allergist - Clinical Immunologist who performs screening tests Measure respiratory function Measuring FeNo Otolaryngoscopy Allergen Test To improve service and medical quality, the hospital has equipped a team of highly qualified, experienced doctors, fully equipped with facilities State-of-the-art equipment to diagnose the disease and stage it before treatment most effectively. Therefore, customers can completely trust the medical quality at Vinmec.