Question: When Should I Use My Peak Flow Meter?
Answer: First, always talk with your doctor about when and how often to use your peak flow meter. Your schedule should be based on your condition and treatment goals. But, as a rule of thumb, most people with good asthma control will test their peak expiratory flow once daily. A good time of day to do it is in the morning when you first wake up. If your readings remain in the same range, your doctor may tell you that you can cut down to using your peak flow only a couple of times a week, or just when you start to notice symptoms.
If your asthma is not yet under control, though, your doctor may have you use your peak flow meter more often. For example, you might use it morning and evening. Or, maybe you'll use it before you take asthma medication and then afterward, to gauge the effect of the medication.
Using your peak flow meter is not harmful, so you can feel free to use it more often than recommended, if you start to sense your asthma is getting worse. Just be sure you always keep your doctor informed about any peak flow readings that are much lower than your personal best PEF rate. Here are some times when it might be wise to check your peak flow more often:
- If you are waking up at night with asthma symptoms
- If your symptoms increase during your waking hours
- When you have a cold or other infection of the lungs or bronchial tubes
- Any time that you are feeling sick, whether from asthma or another illness
- If you need to use your quick-relief inhaler. If you feel that you can, use your peak flow meter before you take your medicine, and then again about 20 or 30 minutes later.
