General Information

• Asthma Triggers - Different things can cause an asthma attack. These things are called asthma triggers.
  • Allergens (pollen, house dust, mold, animal dander)
  • Sudden changes in the weather (generally cold weather)
  • Irritants (cigarette smoke, dirt, pollution)
  • Infections (cold or flu)
  • Exercise
• Peak Flow Meters: Peak flow meters measure how fast an adult can move air out of the lungs. Every adult asthmatic should have a peak flow meter. These measurements are very useful for grading the severity of an asthma attack.
  • Mild attack: PEFR 80-100% of baseline (personal best) (green zone)
  • Moderate attack: PEFR 50-80% (yellow zone)
  • Severe attack: PEFR less than 50% (red zone)
  • In general, medications should be increased when the PEFR is less than 80% of baseline and an adult should be seen immediately in an office or emergency department if the PEFR is less than 50%.