Peak flow meter
Peak flow meter
A Peak flow meter is a portable, inexpensive, hand-held device used to measure how air flows from your lungs in one 'fast blast'. In other words, the meter measures your ability to push air out of your lungs.
Overview[edit | edit source]
Peak flow meters come in two varieties: mechanical and digital. The most commonly used are mechanical peak flow meters. They are used to help manage symptoms in many lung diseases such as Asthma, COPD, and Cystic fibrosis. They can be used to check the lung function in people with asthma, especially children.
Usage[edit | edit source]
To use a peak flow meter, the person takes a deep breath in, seals their lips around the mouthpiece of the device, and then blows out as hard and as fast as possible. The peak flow meter then gives a reading of the speed of the blow, measured in liters per minute.
Importance[edit | edit source]
Peak flow meters can help detect subtle increases in airway resistance, often before the person experiences symptoms. This can allow for early intervention and can prevent serious respiratory problems. They can also help determine what is causing shortness of breath, and can monitor the response to treatment.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
Peak flow meter Resources | |
---|---|
|
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD