1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Asthma

How to Use a Peak Flow Meter

From , former About.com Guide

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

6 of 8

Get Three Peak Flow Readings

How to Use Peak Flow Meter

Using a Peak Flow Meter

Photo courtesy of A.D.A.M.
You need to get three separate peak flow readings each time you use your peak flow meter, so move the marker back to the bottom, and repeat steps 1 through 4 twice more.

If you cough or make a mistake, do not include this as one of your three tries. You will know you have done things right when all three of your readings are pretty close to each other.

Remember – you can't breathe out too hard or too much. But, you can breathe out too slow or too little. So, just be sure that you always breathe out as fast and hard as you possibly can.

Explore Asthma
About.com Special Features

Conquering High Cholesterol

Learn how you can reduce your your numbers with these nutrition and exercise tips. More >

Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds

Keep yourself, and your family, happy and healthy this fall with these tips. More >

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Asthma
  4. Control & Prevention
  5. Self Care / Monitoring
  6. Peak Flow Meters
  7. Get Three Peak Flow Readings

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.