Your Child and Asthma - Peak Flow Meter

Living with Asthma

The Peak Flow Meter
An Early Warning Tool

The peak flow meter measures the state of your child's breathing tubes. The higher the peak flow, the more open the breathing tubes. A lower than usual peak flow means your child's breathing tubes are closing down.

The peak flow meter works in a very simple way. If the breathing tubes are open, you can blow out hard. If the breathing tubes are closing down, you cannot blow out with as much force. The peak flow meter measures the force used to blow out.

Warning: Different peak flow meters may give different results. Always have your child use the same meter. Bring your child's meter with you when you see your doctor.

The peak flow meter is an early warning tool. Your child's peak flow may go down before there is any coughing, wheezing, or chest tightness.

Who can use a peak flow meter?
Most children over age 5 can use a peak flow meter. Ask your doctor how to get one for your child. Ask your doctor, nurse, respiratory therapist, or pharmacist to check how well your child uses the peak flow meter.

When to measure a peak flow?

Ideally, the peak flow should be checked twice a day to get the earliest clue to an asthma flare-up.
At a minimum, check the peak flow once a week when your child is well. By checking the peak flow when your child is well, you will be able to see how far the peak flow has dropped when your child is sick.
Be sure to check the peak flow twice daily if your child gets a cold, has a runny nose, coughing, or wheezing.
Check the peak flow BEFORE taking medications.

How to use the peak flow meter

Help your child follow these steps

Stand up straight and place the mouthpiece of the flow meter in his/her mouth. Be sure that the indicator is at the bottom of the scale.
Breathe in as much air as his/her lungs will hold.
Then huff out as hard and fast as he/she can.
Repeat these steps 3 times, using the highest of the 3 readings as the peak flow rate.
Check your child's peak flow readings twice a day for a week when your child is well to find the per son al best peak flow rate.

Introduction
Understanding Asthma
Treatment of Asthma
Living with Asthma

Site design and illustrations by Green Island Graphics

		The Peak Flow Meter An Early Warning Tool

		The peak flow meter measures the state of your child's breathing tubes. The higher the peak flow, the more open the breathing tubes. A lower than usual peak flow means your child's breathing tubes are closing down. The peak flow meter works in a very simple way. If the breathing tubes are open, you can blow out hard. If the breathing tubes are closing down, you cannot blow out with as much force. The peak flow meter measures the force used to blow out. Warning: Different peak flow meters may give different results. Always have your child use the same meter. Bring your child's meter with you when you see your doctor. The peak flow meter is an early warning tool. Your child's peak flow may go down before there is any coughing, wheezing, or chest tightness. Who can use a peak flow meter? Most children over age 5 can use a peak flow meter. Ask your doctor how to get one for your child. Ask your doctor, nurse, respiratory therapist, or pharmacist to check how well your child uses the peak flow meter. When to measure a peak flow? Ideally, the peak flow should be checked twice a day to get the earliest clue to an asthma flare-up. At a minimum, check the peak flow once a week when your child is well. By checking the peak flow when your child is well, you will be able to see how far the peak flow has dropped when your child is sick. Be sure to check the peak flow twice daily if your child gets a cold, has a runny nose, coughing, or wheezing. Check the peak flow BEFORE taking medications. How to use the peak flow meter Help your child follow these steps Stand up straight and place the mouthpiece of the flow meter in his/her mouth. Be sure that the indicator is at the bottom of the scale. Breathe in as much air as his/her lungs will hold. Then huff out as hard and fast as he/she can. Repeat these steps 3 times, using the highest of the 3 readings as the peak flow rate. Check your child's peak flow readings twice a day for a week when your child is well to find the per son al best peak flow rate.

		Introduction Understanding Asthma Treatment of Asthma Living with Asthma Site design and illustrations by Green Island Graphics