Asthma: Measuring peak flow
Why should I measure my peak expiratory flow?
Measuring your PEF is important, because it lets you:
- Determine your asthma zones, which you use in your asthma action plan. During an acute asthma attack, which zone you are in determines your medication and action.
- Know whether an acute asthma attack is going to occur and how severe it may be. If you know you are going to have an asthma attack, you can take medicine to prevent it or make it less severe. This may help you avoid having to go to the emergency room.
- Identify things that may trigger an asthma attack, such as pollen, cigarette smoke, or dust mites.
- Measure changes in your breathing. This can help your health professional to:
- Decide whether you need to change, increase, or decrease the long-term medicine used in your daily asthma treatment plan.
- Tell which medicines are helping your breathing and which are not.
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| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS | Last Updated: March 22, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Harold S. Nelson, MD - Allergy and Immunology | |
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