Is a peak flow meter worth it?
I have a pulse oximeter, but is a peak flow meter really worth it for someone with mild intermittent asthma? I think it might be considering that I have flares at times, and especially when I get sick, but I'm also obsessed with like collecting all the airway data when it comes to myself. So, yeah, here's another question that I'm handing over to y'all haha
I brought me a peakflow meter when diagnosed so it's beneficial for all asthmatics cause you'll know that a flare-up/attack is coming Thank you so much for your input. I don't wanna get anything unnecessary Hi Wild Tech - this is a good question - thanks for posting it! I know many patients (with asthma), who find that keeping track of their peak flow rates serially, is beneficial for them. Still others manage the disease without the use of a peak flow meter.
This is very much an individual choice for you to make. You may be able to coax the decision by discussing it with your physician. Your doctor (and you!) can determine if this is something you would 'enjoy' doing and, benefit from, by being aware of the readings yourself. It may help you to know when you should use your medications and which medications to use. It also may help to guide you as to when you should be calling your physician for assistance.
What do you think?
Leon (site moderator asthma.net)
Hi. I would agree with 's response above. I know some asthmatics who use a peak flow on a regular basis. Many use it as part of their asthma action plan (https://asthma.net/search?s=asthma%20action%20plan) to help them determine what actions to take when feeling asthma symptoms. In this way, some people do find peak flow meters very useful. We also have a variety of articles on this topic from a variety of different perspectives. I will post a link to these here (https://asthma.net/search?s=asthma%20action%20plan) if you are interested in checking them out. What do you think? John. asthma.net community moderator I know John has already given you plenty of links, but I wanted to pull out one specific article that I've always enjoyed on the topic of peak flow. I read everything that comes through here so it takes a lot for a particular piece to stick with me! is a mom with asthma and her kids have asthma too. I think this article is a great demonstration of how checking your peak flow on the regular can help catch issues before they get too bad. I've tagged her here so that she can come and give you her perspective if she wants.
https://asthma.net/living/peak-flow-personal-best
Let us know what you end up doing! - Melissa, asthma.net teamThanks!
andYes! Peak flows were literally life savers when my kids were little. When their personal best would drop, I would adjust their controller inhalers. Asthma Doc might put my kids on a double dose for a week or so to try to get extra corticosteroids into my kid's lungs.
Sometimes it worked, but sometimes they would need oral steroids to get the swelling down in their lungs.
If they had pneumonia, I knew they would end up in the hospital despite all of our attempts.
It helped to be able to give the ER staff a "number" that was normal for my kids peak flow. Then tell the staff how far my kid's peak flow had dropped (75-100 points.....) It helped them see that my kids were in trouble with their lungs and needed extra help!
