Peak Flow Meter
Lightweight, self-contained and portable, PersonalBest puts peak flow monitoring at your fingertips when you need it.
Description
What is a peak flow meter?
A peak flow meter is an inexpensive, portable, handheld device for people with obstructive lung conditions that is used to measure how well air moves out of your lungs. Measuring your peak flow using this meter is an important part of managing your symptoms and preventing an attack and should form part of your personal action plan2.
Why should I measure my breath strength?
Peak flow is a measure of how fast you can blow air out of your lungs when you exhale forcefully after inhaling fully. This measure is called a “peak expiratory flow,” or “PEF.” Keeping track of your PEF, is one way you can know if your condition is in control or worsening1. Then, in conjunction with your prescribed treatment plan, you can take appropriate action to bring your condition back under control.
Peak flow is a measure of how fast you can blow air out of your lungs when you exhale forcefully after inhaling fully. This measure is called a “peak expiratory flow,” or “PEF.” Keeping track of your PEF, is one way you can know if your condition is in control or worsening1. Then, in conjunction with your prescribed treatment plan, you can take appropriate action to bring your condition back under control.
Monitoring your condition
If your condition isn’t affecting you, you will have airways that are open, so you’re able to blow air out of your lungs quickly, which will give you a high peak flow reading. However, if your condition is not controlled, the airways will narrow and you will not be able to blow air out so fast, which will give you a lower peak flow reading.
If your condition isn’t affecting you, you will have airways that are open, so you’re able to blow air out of your lungs quickly, which will give you a high peak flow reading. However, if your condition is not controlled, the airways will narrow and you will not be able to blow air out so fast, which will give you a lower peak flow reading.
How is it measured2?
Peak flow is measured using a small handheld device called a peak flow meter. The scale is in units of liters per minute (lpm). When you blow into the mouthpiece the small marker will move depending on how fast you are blowing. Where the marker ends up, is your peak flow reading. The highest reading from three attempts should be recorded as your personal best peak flow reading.Your healthcare professional will set the colour zone indicators based on your or your child’s personal best peak expiratory flow rate (the best peak flow measurement achievable when your condition is under control). The peak flow measurement will fall into one of three zones, as shown below.
Peak flow is measured using a small handheld device called a peak flow meter. The scale is in units of liters per minute (lpm). When you blow into the mouthpiece the small marker will move depending on how fast you are blowing. Where the marker ends up, is your peak flow reading. The highest reading from three attempts should be recorded as your personal best peak flow reading.Your healthcare professional will set the colour zone indicators based on your or your child’s personal best peak expiratory flow rate (the best peak flow measurement achievable when your condition is under control). The peak flow measurement will fall into one of three zones, as shown below.
