What does a peak flow meter?
- The peak flow meter is a handheld device that measures air flow, or peak expiratory flow rate
- Determine the severity of asthma
- Monitor response to treatment during an acute episode of asthma
- Monitor the progress in the treatment of chronic asthma and provide information for changes in therapy
- Detect a deterioration of lung function and avoid possible severe asthma attack
A peak flow meter can help expiratory you and your allergist / immunologist to assess the severity of their asthma at any given time. With a peak flow meter, you can often see a drop in the results even before their symptoms (such as coughing or wheezing) get worse. Decreases in peak flow may indicate that drugs need to be strengthened.