How To Use Your Peak Flow Meter
A peak flow meter helps you check how well
your asthma is  controlled.
Peak flow meters are most helpful for people with moderate or
severe asthma. This guide will tell you:
(1) how to find your personal best peak
flow number,
(2) how to use your personal best number
to set your peak flow zones,
(3) how to take your peak flow, and
(4) when to take your peak flow to check
your asthma each day.
Starting Out: Find Your Personal
Best Peak Flow Number
To find your personal best peak flow number,
take your peak flow each day for 2 to 3 weeks. Your asthma should
be under good control during this time. Take your peak flow as
close to the times listed below as you can. These times for taking
your peak flow are only for finding your personal best peak flow.
- Between noon and 2:00 p.m. each day.
- Each time you take your quick relief medicine
to relieve symptoms (Measure your peak flow after you take your
medicine) Any other time your doctor suggests.
- Write down the number you get for each
peak flow reading. The highest peak flow number you had during
the 2 to 3 weeks is your personal best.
- Your personal best can change over time.
Ask your doctor when to check for a new personal best.
- To check your asthma each day, you will
take your peak flow In the morning. This is discussed on the next
page.
Your Peak Flow Zones
- Your peak flow zones are based on your
personal best peak flow number. The zones will help you check
your asthma and take the right actions to keep it controlled.
The colors used with each zone come from the traffic light.
Green Zone (80 to 100) percent of
your personal best) means
good control. Take your usual daily long-term-control medicines,
if you take any. Keep taking these medicines even when you are
in the yellow or red zones.
Yellow Zone (50 to 79) percent of
your personal best) means
Caution: your asthma is getting worse. Add quick-relief medicines.
You might need to increase other asthma medicines as directed
by your doctor.
Red Zone (below 50) percent of your
personal best) means medical
alert! Add or increase quick-relief medicines and call your
doctor now.
Ask your doctor to write an action
plan for you that tells you:
The peak flow
numbers for your green, yellow and red zones. Mark the zones
on your peak flow meter with colored tape or a marker.
***The medicines you should take while
In each peak flow zone.
How To Take Your Peak Flow
1. Move the marker to the bottom of the
numbered scale.
2. Stand up or sit up straight.
3. Take a deep breath. Fill your lungs
all the way.
4. Hold your breath while you place the
mouthpiece in your mouth, between your teeth. Close your lips
around it. Do not put your tongue Inside the hole.
5. Blow out as hard and fast as you can.
Your peak flow meter will measure how fast you can blow out air.
6. Write down the number you get. But if
you cough or make a mistake, do not write down the number. Do
it over again.
7. Repeat steps 1 through 6 two more times.
Write down the highest of the three numbers. This is your peak
flow number.
8. Check to see which peak flow zone your
peak flow number is in. Do the actions your doctor told you to
do while in that zone.
Your doctor may ask you to write down your
peak flow numbers each day. You can do this on a calendar or other
paper. This will help you and your doctor see how your asthma
Is doing over time.
Checking Your Asthma: When To Use Your
Peak Flow Meter ·
Every morning when you wake up, before
you take medicine. Make this part of your daily routine.
When you are having asthma symptoms or an attack. And after taking
medicine for the attack. This can tell you how bad your asthma
attack is and whether your medicine is working.
Any other time your doctor suggests.
If you use more than one peak flow meter
(such as at home and at school), be sure that both meters are
the same brand.
Bring to Each of Your Doctor's Visits:
- Your peak flow meter.
Your Peak Flow numbers if you have written them down each day.
Also, ask your doctor or nurse to check how you use your peak
flow meter-just to be sure you are doing it right.
From : Facts about controlling
Asthma, National Asthma Education and Prevention Program National
Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. NIH Publication Number 97-2339
A reproducible handout.
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