If you use your peak flow meter every day and keep track of the results, you will be able to help your doctor see how your asthma is doing on a daily basis. It also will help both you and your doctor to understand how well your asthma action plan is working. Your peak flow readings even can help you realize your asthma is getting worse, before you have any symptoms and will guide you as to what – if any – steps you need to take.
But First, What Questions Do You Have About Using a Peak Flow Meter?
Any time you need to incorporate a new process into your daily routine, there will be questions you'll have about it. Getting the answers to these questions early on will help you accept the need for it and to understand how it fits into your overall asthma management plan. Here are some of the common questions people have about using peak flow meters for asthma control:
- What Is a Peak Flow Meter?
- Why Are Peak Flow Meters Used?
- Who Should Use Peak Flow Meters?
- When Should I Use My Peak Flow Meter?
- How Do I Chart Peak Flow Readings?
- What Is a Normal Peak Flow Rate?
- What Is My Personal Best Rate?
- How Does Peak Flow Relate to My Asthma Action Plan?
- How Do I Care for My Peak Flow Meter?
- What Else Do I Need to Know?
Learning the Right Technique
To get the most out of your peak flow meter efforts, it is important to learn the right way to use the peak flow meter. It's not hard, but to get accurate readings, you do need to take your time and use good technique. We've put together a step-by-step tutorial to help you learn how to use your peak flow meter correctly. There are both photos and text to guide you. You can access the peak flow meter tutorial here.
Your Early Warning System
A peak flow meter is a tool that can tell you what's going on inside of your body. You know how bad you feel when your asthma symptoms start to flare and you begin to wheeze, cough, and feel tight in the chest as you struggle to breathe in and out. Those are all signs that asthma control is beginning to slip.
A peak flow meter, though, will pick up on the slipping asthma control even before things get bad enough for asthma symptoms to start up. That's why you can think of it as an "early warning system" for asthma attacks. With a peak flow meter, you can prevent asthma flares and asthma attacks from ever beginning.
Most people who have asthma will benefit from consulting with an asthma specialist. If you've done that, then you have probably been instructed to use a peak flow meter. But if you're not seeing a specialist, and your primary doctor has not prescribed a peak flow meter for you, then you may want to ask him or her about it. It's inexpensive, fairly easy to learn, and an important tool in your arsenal for asthma control.
Sources:
AAAAI, "Tips to remember: what is a peak flow meter?." American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. 01 January 2007. AAAAI. 21 Feb 2008 <http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/whatispeakflowmeter.stm>
American Lung Association, "Peak flow meters." American Lung Association. 01 August 2006. <http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=22586>
