Home monitoring helps individuals with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to manage their condition and prevent complications.

Peak flow is the fastest rate at which you can blow air out of your lungs. Monitoring using a peak flow meter can help to detect early signs of an asthma attack or worsening COPD.

A pulse oximeter measures the amount of oxygen in your blood. You should monitor your oxygen level to determine if you need to change your activity level or use supplemental oxygen.

It’s a good idea to keep a diary to record these peak flow and oxygen saturation levels, and you should also record when symptoms occur and identify the trigger, if possible.

By maintaining a comprehensive monitoring routine, individuals with asthma or COPD can better manage their condition and improve their quality of life.