![]() When you wake up in the morning and the late afternoon or early evening.If you cough or sneeze while breathing out, you will need to start again. Do not put your tongue in front of the mouthpiece.Blow into the mouthpiece as quickly and as hard as you can.You will blow air into the mouthpiece, which causes a small plastic arrow to move. This handheld instrument has a mouthpiece on one end and a scale on the other end. You’ll use a peak expiratory flow monitor to perform the test. The PEFR test is used to check for lung problems: When Does a Doctor Recommend a Peak Expiratory Flow Rate Test? You can adjust your medication or change environmental factors that affect your breathing. This is the only way to ensure you notice patterns when your flow rate is low or decreasing.įor example, when you notice these patterns you can take steps to prevent your symptoms from worsening into a full-blown asthma attack. Keeping ongoing records of your flow rate is important. It is commonly performed at home with a peak flow monitor. The peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) test measures how fast you can exhale and is also referred to as a peak flow test. What is a Peak Expiratory Flow Rate Test? Rescue inhalers provide quick relief when your lungs get tight to avoid emergencies. Some are taken as pills or capsules, while others are inhaled.Ĭontroller medications meant to work in the long term, keeping your lungs open to improve your breathing while you’re active. Several medicines can help in the treatment of COPD. Your doctor will talk to you about changes you will need to make in your everyday life – including small changes that can significantly impact your breathing, and prevent symptoms. Genetics can also play a role in an individual’s development of COPD-even if the person has never smoked or has ever been exposed to strong lung irritants in the workplace. Always follow your healthcare provider's suggestions about your peak flow rate.Most cases of COPD occur because of inhaled pollutants – smoking, second-hand smoke, fumes, chemicals, and dust. Some healthcare providers may suggest zones with a smaller range, such as 90 to 100 percent. Contact your healthcare provider right away and if symptoms don’t improve, call 911 or go the nearest emergency room. Take your quick-relief medicine right away. This zone indicates that there is severe airway narrowing. Red Zone: Less than 50 percent of your usual or "normal" peak flow rate signals a medical alert.Take the additional medicine(s) listed in the yellow zone of your asthma action plan. This zone indicates that your airways are narrowing, and you need to take action. Yellow Zone: 50 to 80 percent of your usual or "normal" peak flow rate signals caution.A reading in this zone means that your asthma is in good control. Green Zone: 80 to 100 percent of your usual or "normal" peak flow rate signals all clear.Your healthcare provider may suggest other zones to follow. Keep in mind that recognizing changes from "normal" is important. In general, a normal peak flow rate can vary as much as 20 percent.īe aware of the following general guidelines. The colors of a traffic light – green, yellow, red – are used to represent the three zones. Peak flow rates are commonly split into three zones. Discuss the readings with your healthcare provider. Step 7: Keep a chart of your peak flow rates. Some people measure peak flow both before and after taking medication. You may want to measure your peak flow rate before or after using your medicine. One suggestion is to measure your peak flow rate twice daily between 7 and 9 a.m. You and your healthcare provider can determine the best times. Step 6: Measure your peak flow rate close to the same time each day. You can't breathe out too much when using your peak flow meter, but you can breathe out too little. Step 5: Record the highest of the three ratings. ![]() ![]() (You know you have done the routine correctly when the numbers from all three tries are very close together.) Step 4: Repeat the entire routine three times. Step 3: The force of the air coming out of your lungs causes the marker to move along the numbered scale. Blow a "fast hard blast" rather than "slowly blowing" until you have emptied out nearly all the air from your lungs. In one breath, blow out as hard and as quickly as possible (like you are blowing out candles on a birthday cake). Be sure to keep your tongue away from the mouthpiece. Close your lips tightly around the mouthpiece. Put the mouthpiece of the peak flow meter into your mouth. Step 1: Before each use, make sure the sliding marker or arrow on the Peak Flow Meter is at the bottom of the numbered scale (zero or the lowest number on the scale). ![]()
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