A peak flow meter measures a person’s ability to exhale and is used to monitor and predict asthma attacks. Patients can track changes in their peak flow rates over time on a graph to determine the severity of their symptoms and work with their doctors to devise effective treatment plans. The use of peak flow meters is an important part of an asthma patient’s treatment plan but should be used in conjunction with appropriate medical supervision, medications, and other diagnostic tools.
A peak flow meter graph is one of the tools used in asthma monitoring. A peak flow meter is a small, hand-held instrument that measures a person’s ability to exhale. Measurements taken at regular intervals are recorded on a peak flow meter diagram and are used to predict and treat acute asthma attacks.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways affecting more than 300 million people worldwide. It is characterized by airflow obstruction and bronchial spasms causing the patient to cough, wheeze, tightness in the chest and shortness of breath. With medication and proper monitoring, asthma is a treatable and controllable disease.
A person’s maximum rate of exhalation is called the peak expiratory flow rate. Healthy patients will have higher peak flow rates, with lower rates indicating respiratory distress. By tracking changes in rates over time with a peak flow meter graph, patients can determine the severity of their asthma symptoms and work with their doctors to devise effective treatment plans. The use of peak flow meters and peak flow meter graphs can be an important part of an asthma patient’s treatment plan, but only when used in conjunction with appropriate medical supervision, medications, and other diagnostic tools. A peak flow meter is not an appropriate tool for diagnosing asthma.
Patients take three peak flow meter measurements and the best measurement is recorded on the peak flow meter graph. Measurements can be plotted over time on graph paper along with anecdotal information about a patient’s symptoms. This provides the patient with helpful information to take to their doctor and can also tell them when to take their prescribed medications. By analyzing the readings on a peak flow meter graph, patients can determine what triggers an asthma attack, evaluate the effectiveness of current medications, and decide if emergency care is needed. Common asthma triggers include airborne allergens, exercise, cigarette smoke, colds, viruses, and emotional stress.
Typically, peak flow readings are classified into three measurement areas: green, yellow, and red. A green categorization indicates that your asthma symptoms are under control, and yellow and red categories indicate different levels of discomfort. In collaboration with a healthcare team, a patient’s asthma treatment plan can be developed to handle situations where peak flowmeter readings are in the danger zones.
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