Successful control of your asthma depends upon a partnership between you and your allergist. If you worsen at any time when in the red zone seek emergency care immediately. If peak flow readings do not return to at least the yellow zone, contact your allergist. Use your inhaled bronchodilator per your action plan – this may be as many as three times in one hour. "Danger," your asthma management and treatment program isn't controlling your symptoms. Red zone: PEFR below 50% of personal best. Contact your allergist to fine-tune your therapy if you do not see improvement.
Yellow zone: PEFR 50 to 80% of personal best.
PEAK FLOW METER FREE
All systems "go." You are relatively free of symptoms and can maintain your current asthma management program. Green zone: PEFR 80 to 100% of personal best. The following traffic light system can serve as an easy guide: Once you and your allergist have found your personal best peak flow, you should make every effort to maintain values within 80% of this number so you feel your best. Record your peak flow twice a day for two weeks when you are well.Your personal best is the highest peak flow number you can get over a two to three week period when your asthma is under good control. If your medicine is working, you should see an improvement in your reading.Īlthough your predicted "normal" peak flow is determined by your height, age and gender, you should measure your asthma control by comparing your daily peak flow recordings with your "personal best" reading. Your allergist may ask you to record your peak flow before and after using your rescue inhaler. Peak flow meters need some care, so make sure to follow the cleaning instructions. Keep a chart of peak flow readings to track your asthma symptoms. This is especially important if you are evaluating your child's asthma. Repeat two times, and record the highest of the three numbers in your chart.Īll three measurements should be about the same to show that a good effort was made each time.Do not cough, spit or let your tongue block the mouthpiece.Blow out as hard and as fast as possible into the peak flow meter (one to two seconds).Place the meter in your mouth and close your lips around the mouthpiece.Stand up (unless you have a physical disability).Make sure the device reads zero or is at base level.Decreases in peak flow may show that you need to increase your medication. With a peak flow meter, you can often see a drop in your readings even before your symptoms (like coughing or wheezing) get worse. Detect worsening lung function and avoid a possible serious asthma flare-upĪ peak flow meter can help you and your allergist / immunologist, often referred to as an allergist, evaluate how severe your asthma is at any point in time.Monitor progress in treatment of chronic asthma and provide information for any changes in your therapy.Check your response to treatment during an acute asthma episode.Determine the severity of your asthma attack.
PEAK FLOW METER PORTABLE
The readings on a peak flow meter tell you how open your airways are, so you can better manage your asthma.Ī peak flow meter is a portable device that measures air flow, or peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). With asthma, sometimes you may feel your breathing is fine, but when you measure it with a peak flow meter your lung function is slightly decreased. For instance, there may be times when you feel feverish, but when you take your temperature with a thermometer it is normal. Both are tools to help monitor what is going on in your body. A peak flow meter for asthma is like a thermometer for a fever.
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