Your peak flow meter is a helpful tool

Your doctor may suggest using a “peak flow meter” to monitor how well your lungs are working.

A peak flow meter can show that your airways are narrowing before an asthma attack. It can help you determine:

• When to seek emergency medical care
• The effectiveness of your asthma management and treatment plan
• When to stop or add medication, as directed by your physician
• Your asthma triggers

To use a peak flow meter, take a deep breath and then blow the air out into the device. The meter gives you a “peak flow” number. The number tells you how well you moved the air out and how open your airways are.

Record your number every day for a few weeks. The highest number for that period will be your personal-best peak flow. You then can compare your future measurements to your personal-best number. This will tell you if your asthma is staying under control.

A peak flow meter can help warn you of a possible asthma attack even before you notice symptoms. If your peak flow meter shows that your breathing is getting worse, follow your emergency asthma action plan. Take your quick-relief or other medicines as your doctor has directed. Then use the peak flow meter. Following these guidelines can give you very important information about your asthma.