Diaries aid asthma control
25 October 2007

A study of women with asthma has found that those who keep an asthma diary have a higher level of control over their condition than those who don’t.

Researchers at the University of Michigan, USA, found that women who used an asthma diary had significantly better self-efficacy, fewer unscheduled visits to their doctor and higher levels of asthma management.

Researchers also found older women and those with a higher education were more likely to keep a diary, while those with more severe asthma and a history of smoking were less likely to do so.

Kate Jarvis, Asthma UK’s Health Promotion Manager, said: ‘We know that keeping a symptom diary or peak flow diary can be beneficial to people with asthma as it helps them closely monitor their asthma, identify triggers and tell if their asthma is getting better or worse. It's also a really useful record they can take to their doctor to aid discussion about their asthma and medicines.

‘However it's important people with asthma have a review at least once a year or more often if symptoms are severe, or worsen.'