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Why it's done
By Mayo Clinic staffA peak flow meter allows you to measure day-to-day changes in your breathing. Using a peak flow meter can help you:
- Track the control of your asthma over time
- Show how well your treatment is working
- Recognize signs of a flare-up before symptoms appear
- Know what steps to take when you have signs of an asthma flare-up
- Decide when to call your doctor or get emergency care
References
- Measuring your peak flow rate. American Lung Association. http://www.lungusa.org/lung-disease/asthma/living-with-asthma/take-control-of-your-asthma/measuring-your-peak-flow-rate.html. Accessed Dec. 22, 2011.
- Expert panel report 3 (EPR-3): Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. Bethesda, Md.: National Institutes of Health. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthgdln.htm. Accessed Dec. 22, 2011.
- Tips to remember: Peak flow meter. American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/whatispeakflowmeter.stm. Accessed Dec 22, 2011.
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