Health Risks: Self-Monitoring Peak Flow Meters

The Peak flow Meter is a device that measures the rate at which air is exhaled from the lungs. It is an important tool to measure lung function at home or job site. Your doctor may prescribe this to help you control or monitor your asthma. The readings from this device are important to the patient because it is an indication of the general condition of that individual's lungs at the time the reading is taken. If there is any constriction of the breathing passages in the lung, the peak flow reading will be lower than the average for that individual. Peak flow readings are helpful to the asthma patient to determine what, if any, care is needed, at the time the reading is taken. The measurement obtained from a peak flow meter is usually in increments of ten liters per minute, and is usually expressed by increments beginning at one hundred liters per minute and progressing upward to a maximum of eight hundred liters per minute, in steps of ten liters. By regular use of this device, patients are able to monitor and respond to changes in their breathing status. It's readings guide the patient and help decide the amount of brochodilator medicine needed for control of symptoms. This helps the patient to manage his or her own symptoms. The patient's physician will set the limits & instruct the patient on how to use the information. Use of the peak flow meter is easy, and requires only a minute or two for the average patient.

Here's how to do it:

1. Set the indicator to its lowest setting while standing or sitting straight.
2. Exhale completely,then take in a full deep breath and while holding your breath, place the meter in your mouth.
3. Exhale as forcefully and rapidly as possible!
4. Note the reading by looking at the indicator, reset the meter and repeat two more times.
5. The highest of the three readings is your peak flow at that time.

After two weeks of twice-daily use, calculate the average and this number will be the current baseline. For children, the average will change as they grow and may need to be recalculated as often as every six months during rapid growth years.

Once a baseline is obtained...
Zones should be set to guide in therapy:

• GREEN ZONE- Peak flow readings at or no more than 20-25% below baseline.
• YELLOW ZONE- Peak flow readings between 75% AND 50% of baseline.
• RED ZONE- Less than 50% of baseline.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
THESE LIMITS SHOULD BE SET BY YOUR PHYSICIAN OR NURSE AND MAY NOT BE EXACTLY THE SAME AS ABOVE! Readings in the green zone are normal and hopefully you will have a nice day!.

Readings in the yellow zone are indications of caution -- requiring use of brochodilator medicine ( i.e. albuterol) to help open your lungs. Your doctor may have given you specific instructions on how to respond to readings in this range. Readings in the red zone require immediate intervention by use of medication and calling your doctor to report your condition.