A peak flow meter is a device that is sometimes used in the treatment and management of asthma..
How Peak Flow Meters Work
A respiratory peak flow meter is a simply designed, easy to use tool which measures the flow of air from the lungs.
To use a peak flow meter, the patient draws a deep breath, then places the end of the meter in their mouth and quickly exhales all the air from their lungs in one fast blast. An arrow on the meter indicates how much air is expelled.
Treatment Of Asthma: Peak Flow Meter
In the management and treatment of asthma, a peak flow meter is often used (though generally not in children younger than three, perhaps even five).
To begin with, a peak flow meter will be used to determine the flow of air from the airways as compared to “normal” ranges in healthy individuals, and also to find a baseline of what airflow is normal for the patient. To find what is normal on a daily, healthy basis of a given patient, and to spot trouble zones, a peak flow meter diary is kept. A peak flow meter diary includes notations of the time of day the meter was used, the resulting flow measurement (highest number of three), and any additional notations regarding how the patient felt, et cetera.. The patient may be asked (if they are capable) to input the resulting measurements into an easy to follow peak flow meter chart that plainly exhibits peaks and valleys of airway function.
From these ongoing charting doctors are able to see the level readings as well as the peaks and valleys of the patient’s air movement capabilities. Medical benefits of peak flow meter use include utilizing this information to spot when a down-turn in airway function might be coming on, what triggers airway constriction, what normal lung function the patient is able to achieve, and the effectiveness of medications on airway constriction. Doctors can use this information to adjust medications up and down, and reliably determine how a new medication might be working. More information about the usefulness of peak flow meter use and charting can be read in a reliability study of peak flow meters and their medical benefits.
Shopping For Peak Flow Meters
There are many places to buy a peak flow meter. Your doctor might provide one or have you buy a peak flow meter and asthma management diary at the pharmacy. You can also shop for, compare and buy a peak flow meter online at internet-based medical supplies. Peak flow meter online discounts can net great prices on a peak flow meter buy. For recommendations about size, type, and manufacturer, consults your doctor, pharmacist, and online resources and reviews.
Not every asthma management plan will include the use of a peak flow meter, but for those that do, the benefit of concrete statistics and airway functionality data help doctors and patients properly regulate and institute asthma management plans. Hard-core visual data can tell patients when additional medications and precautions need to be taken, and reliably relay the information to treating physicians during doctor’s visits. For many asthma patients, a peak-flow meter is just the tool that puts their disease into perspective.
