How to measure peak flow?
A peak flow meter is simple to use. To measure your peak flow: 1 Sit or stand up straight. Whichever you choose, make sure you do it this way each time. 2 Make sure the red marker is at the bottom of the meter. 3 Take a deep breath, filling your lungs completely. 4 Place the mouthpiece in your mouth. Close your lips tightly on the peak flow meter’s mouthpiece. 5 Blast the air out as hard and as fast as possible in a single blow. 6 Write down the number by the red marker on the meter. 7 Put the red marker back at the bottom of the peak flow meter and repeat these steps three times. 8 The highest of these three readings is your daily peak flow. 9 Write down the highest of the three readings on a sheet of paper, calendar or in your asthma diary. 10 Record any symptoms you are having, like wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath or coughing and if you’ve taken your rescue/emergency medication.
How to write down a peak flow meter?
Make sure the red marker is at the bottom of the meter. Take a deep breath, filling your lungs completely. Place the mouthpiece in your mouth. Close your lips tightly on the peak flow meter’s mouthpiece. Blast the air out as hard and as fast as possible in a single blow. Write down the number by the red marker on the meter.
What is peak flow?
A peak flow meter measures how fast you can push air out of your lungs when you blow out as hard and as fast as you can. This is called peak flow. Your peak flows measure how open the airways are in the lungs. Your peak flow may drop early even before you feel bad.
What is the peak flow of asthma?
The "personal or usual best" peak flow is the highest number you can perform over a two-week period when asthma is under good control. Good control means you feel good and do not have any symptoms. You’ll compare all of your other peak flow readings to your personal best peak flow number.
Why does peak flow drop?
Your peak flow may drop early even before you feel bad. This drop tells you that your asthma may be getting worse. Measuring your peak flow may help you learn what caused or “triggered” the drop, helps decide which medicines to add or take away and when you may need emergency care.
Do you do peak flow test before taking inhalers?
Do the test before taking any inhalers, or as instructed by your healthcare provider. Once you have determined your personal best peak flow number, continue to perform peak flows daily or as instructed by your healthcare provider.
What is a peak flow meter?
Peak flow meters come in two ranges to measure the air pushed out of your lungs. A low-range peak flow meter is for small children, and a standard-range peak flow meter is for older children, teenagers and adults. An adult has much larger airways than a child and needs the larger range.
When to measure peak flow rate?
If your asthma is well controlled and you know your "normal" rate, you may decide to measure your peak flow rate only when you sense that your asthma is getting worse. More severe asthma may require several measurements daily. Don't forget that your peak flow meter needs care and cleaning.
How to determine peak flow rate?
How Can I Determine a "Normal" Peak Flow Rate for Me? 1 Green Zone:#N#80 to 100 percent of your usual or "normal" peak flow rate signals all clear. A reading in this zone means that your asthma is under reasonably good control. Continue your prescribed program of management. 2 Yellow Zone:#N#50 to 80 percent of your usual or "normal" peak flow rate signals caution. It is time for decisions. Your airways are narrowing and may require extra treatment. Your symptoms can get better or worse depending on what you do, or how and when you use your prescribed medication. You and your healthcare provider should have a plan for yellow zone readings. 3 Red Zone:#N#Less than 50 percent of your usual or "normal" peak flow rate signals a Medical Alert. Immediate decisions and actions need to be taken. Severe airway narrowing may be occurring. Take your rescue medications right away. Contact your healthcare provider now and follow the plan they have given you for red zone readings.
Why do schools need a peak flow meter?
Schools may request a peak flow meter for your child so they can help monitor your child's asthma symptoms.
Why is my peak flow meter inaccurate?
Dirt collected in the meter may make your peak flow measurements inaccurate. If you have a cold or other respiratory infection, germs or mucus may also collect in the meter. Proper cleaning with mild detergent in hot water will keep your peak flow meter working accurately and may keep you healthier.
Can a peak flow meter help with asthma?
Many healthcare providers believe a peak flow meter may be of most help for people with moderate and severe asthma. If your asthma is mild or you do not use daily medication, a peak flow meter may not be useful for your asthma management.
What is a peak flow meter?
The peak flow meter is a handheld, portable device that measures how well air moves out of your lungs. 1 Your peak flow meter can be used for short-term monitoring in certain situations. It also can be useful for long-term daily monitoring.
Why should I measure my PEF?
Why should I measure my asthma PEF? Short-term monitoring is useful for many reasons, such as: 2. Starting or changing medications, to see how well they are working. Monitoring an increase in asthma symptoms that indicate an attack is starting.
What is the highest measurement in the 2 to 3 week period?
The highest measurement in the 2 to 3 week period is your personal best PEF. 1. Once you know your personal best PEF, you and your provider can use this information to develop a written asthma action plan. Asthma action plans describe what to do in the event of an asthma flare-up. Your plan should say who and when to call based on your peak ...
When to take PEF?
Take one reading in the early morning and another in the late afternoon or evening. Measure your PEF 15 to 20 minutes after taking your rescue inhaler. Measure your PEF at other times, if your doctor tells you to. The highest measurement in the 2 to 3 week period is your personal best PEF. 1.
Can a peak flow meter diagnose asthma?
Want to monitor their lung function. The peak flow meter is not used to diagnose asthma or to measure how severe asthma is. 1 Using a peak flow meter is one of the many ways that patients and their families manage their asthma. Adults and children ages five and older can use a peak flow meter.
How to measure peak flow?
To measure your peak flow: 1 find a comfortable position, either sitting or standing 2 reset your peak flow meter so the pointer is pushed back to the first line of the scale – this is usually 60 3 hold the peak flow meter so it's horizontal and make sure that your fingers are not obstructing the measurement scale 4 breathe in as deeply as you can and place your lips tightly around the mouthpiece 5 breathe out as quickly and as hard as you can 6 when you've finished breathing out, make a note of your reading
What does peak flow score mean?
By measuring how fast you're able to breathe out, your peak flow score can indicate whether your airways are narrowed. This could be a sign that you have asthma, although other tests such as spirometry will often be needed to confirm the diagnosis.
How to reset a peak flow meter?
reset your peak flow meter so the pointer is pushed back to the first line of the scale – this is usually 60. hold the peak flow meter so it's horizontal and make sure that your fingers are not obstructing the measurement scale. breathe in as deeply as you can and place your lips tightly around the mouthpiece. ...
What is peak flow?
Peak flow is a simple measurement of how quickly you can blow air out of your lungs. It's often used to help diagnose and monitor asthma. Credit: A peak flow test involves blowing as hard as you can into a small handheld device called a peak flow meter. These are available on prescription or can be bought from most pharmacies.
How many times should you repeat peak flow?
This should be repeated 3 times, and the highest of the 3 measurements should be recorded as your peak flow score.
What is a peak flow meter?
A peak flow meter can help show the narrowing of the airways well before an asthma attack happens. A peak flow meter can help you figure out: When to get emergency medical care. How well an asthma treatment plan is working. When to use an inhaler. When to stop or add medicine as directed by your healthcare provider.
When to measure peak flow?
Measure peak flows about the same time each day. A good time might be when you first wake up, or at bedtime. Clean and care for your meter as instructed. If you use a new peak flow meter, you will need to find your new personal best value on the new meter.
What is peak expiratory flow rate?
Peak flow measurement is mostly done by people who have asthma or a long-term (chronic) lung disease. Peak flow measure ment can show the amount and rate of air that can be forcefully breathed out of the lungs.
Where to use PFM?
The readings can vary between brands and types of meters. In some cases, the test is done in a healthcare provider's office or a hospital with a spirometer.
Can you take a peak flow test with a deep breath?
The risks of this test may include: Having to take in deep breaths may make you feel dizzy or short of breath. It may trigger coughing or wheezing. Certain factors may interfere with the accuracy of peak flow measurement, such as: Not breathing in deeply enough to start the test.
Can you use a PFM for asthma?
Your provider may not advise you use a PFM unless your asthma is moderate or severe and you are managing it with medicine. PFM can also be used to assess other lung problems, such as:
What is a peak flow meter?
A peak flow meter is an inexpensive, portable, handheld device for those with asthma that is used to measure how well air moves out of your lungs. This measure is called a "peak expiratory flow," or "PEF." Keeping track of your PEF, is one way you can know if your symptoms of asthma are in control or worsening.
What does green mean in a flow chart?
Green . This means “go.” The green zone is 80% to 100% of your highest peak flow reading, or personal best.
