Record these ranges in your asthma diary so that you can refer to them easily.įor example, if your personal best peak flow is 400 LPM, the zones will be: To find the number ranges for your Asthma Action Plan zones, multiply your personal best peak flow by 1.0 (100%), 0.8 (80%), and 0.5 (50%). Peak flow is less than 50% of your personal best. Peak flow is 50% to 80% of your personal best. Yellow zone: Your asthma is getting worse or is poorly controlled.Peak flow is 80% to 100% of your personal best. Green zone: Your asthma is well-controlled.Your Asthma Action Plan has three zones: green, yellow and red. To help with understanding how this works, caregivers use the “traffic light” system. Keeping a daily record of your peak flows and understanding how this relates to changes in asthma will help you to better manage asthma episodes. Your caregiver may use these numbers to create a plan for helping you control your asthma. Regular use of peak flow will help you recognize early decreases in airflow and will be used to guide your asthma care. Once you have determined your personal best peak flow number, continue to perform peak flows daily or as instructed by your healthcare provider. Do the test before taking any inhalers, or as instructed by your healthcare provider.Do them at the same time in the morning and in the early evening.Perform peak flow testing twice a day for two weeks.You’ll compare all of your other peak flow readings to your personal best peak flow number. Good control means you feel good and do not have any symptoms.

The 'personal or usual best' peak flow is the highest number you can perform over a two-week period when asthma is under good control. How do you find your 'personal best' peak flow? Record any symptoms you are having, like wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath or coughing and if you’ve taken your rescue/emergency medication.Write down the highest of the three readings on a sheet of paper, calendar or in your asthma diary.The highest of these three readings is your daily peak flow.Put the red marker back at the bottom of the peak flow meter and repeat these steps three times.Write down the number by the red marker on the meter.Blast the air out as hard and as fast as possible in a single blow.Close your lips tightly on the peak flow meter’s mouthpiece. Take a deep breath, filling your lungs completely.Make sure the red marker is at the bottom of the meter.

Whichever you choose, make sure you do it this way each time. How do you use the peak flow meter?Ī peak flow meter is simple to use. Measuring your peak flow may help you learn what caused or “triggered” the drop, helps decide which medicines to add or take away and when you may need emergency care.

This drop tells you that your asthma may be getting worse. Your peak flow may drop early even before you feel bad. Your peak flows measure how open the airways are in the lungs. What is a peak flow meter and why use one?Ī peak flow meter measures how fast you can push air out of your lungs when you blow out as hard and as fast as you can.

Flow meeter