Peak flow meters usually have an open orifice in the mouthpiece of the device; this is the area most likely to become obstructed, so check here first before use. When grasping the meter in your hand, make sure your fingers do not obstruct the sliding scale on top of the device.
You can adjust the cursor by simply placing your finger on it and manually sliding it to the “zero” end of the scale, which is toward the mouthpiece of the meter.
Be sure to remove gum or anything else from your mouth before inhaling. Not only do you want to prevent blowing a foreign object into your peak flow meter, but you also don’t want to accidentally inhale anything when you take your deep breath in.
Pull your tongue backward, away from the mouthpiece, so you do not accidentally block the opening of the meter.
Don’t worry about blowing for a long time or getting all the air out of your lungs when you exhale; only your most forceful rate of exhalation will register on the meter. If you cough or sneeze into the device, you will have to do it over again, as these will give you false readings that are higher than your actual peak exhalation. [7] X Research source Don’t forget to write down the meter reading!
Do not average your readings; you need to keep a record of your peak flow rate, which means you need to get the highest reading possible. If you don’t have enough energy or are out of breath after the first test, make a note of this for your records and stick with your first test reading.
Your readings will be most consistent if you take them at the same time(s) each day. If you become ill and experience more difficulty than usual breathing, testing your peak flow will not be beneficial. In fact, doing so could skew your records such that you notice a false improvement in your asthma once you are no longer sick.
Your journal should include information about your daily readings (including time of day), your personal best peak flow rate, any unusual respiratory issues you experience, and details about your testing experiences (for example, if testing causes you to become wheezy or lightheaded).
Since your doctor might not have time to go through your notes, you should create a summary of important points from your journal. Be sure to at least have your information well-organized so your doctor can find the information he needs. If you are up to the challenge, consider creating a chart tracking your peak flow readings over the past few weeks to show your doctor. This can be done by hand or on a computer and is a nice way to visualize any trends that may appear in your flow rate readings.
Do your personal best testing between the hours of noon and 2 pm each day. Make sure your condition is under control during your several-week personal best testing period. If you become sick during this time, you will likely not find your personal best. If you are taking medication for your asthma, make sure you do your personal best tests shortly after taking your medication. This applies to both “quick-relief” medications and those you take regularly to prevent attacks.
There are three flow “zones,” which are each based on the a percentage range of your personal best. The green zone is 80 to 100% of your best; the yellow zone is 50 to 79% of your best; and the red zone is 49% or less of your best. Use your flow zone to gauge whether your condition is changing and what steps to take in response to those changes (if any). If your condition is getting worse and you are already taking daily medication to treat your asthma, you should consider adding quick-relief meds to your normal regimen (but speak to a doctor before taking new or additional medications). If your reading is in the red zone at any point, seek immediate medical attention!
See your doctor before attempting to determine what your peak flow rate should be.
