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 child's personal best. Based on your child's asthma action plan, no changes are needed in your child's treatments or activities.

• Yellow. Airflow is between 50% to 80% of your child's personal best. Based on your child's asthma action plan, more medicine or treatments may be needed.

• Red. Airflow is less than 50% of your child's peak flow. Based on your child's asthma action plan, contact their healthcare provider, go to the emergency room, or call (signs of respiratory distress) if your child's peak flow readings stay below 50% even with treatments.

Call

Call or seek medical help right away if:

• Quick relief medicines are not helping

• Breathing, coughing, and wheezing are getting worse after taking medicines or using an inhaler

• You feel drowsy

• You have trouble walking or talking due to asthma symptoms