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Why Peak Flow Monitoring?
Regular monitoring of patients' peak flow is extremely useful for
controlling diseases of the airways, such as asthma and chronic
bronchitis.
Physicians and patients can find asthma attack triggers such as
allergies and dusty environments, then choose the proper therapy.
Only with a peak flow monitor can modern asthma control plans be
followed. The monitor gives the patient better, earlier and more
objective information, to find breathing problems before wheezing
and coughing begins.
When to Measure?
Regular measurement of peak flow values is important for monitoring
your condition.
Physicians typically recommend taking one measurement in the morning
and one in the evening on a daily basis. Measurements should also be
taken when feeling poorly or experiencing shortness of breath. Always
take measurements before inhaling any prescribed drugs.
What is important in measuring Peak Flow?
Your physician is only interested in the HIGHEST peak flow value
achieved during a measurement session. Please repeat the measurements
until you feel you have gotten the best possible result for that
session. In the event of declining results at each successive
measurement, talk to your doctor. It may be a sign of unstable asthma.
Coughing during a measurement can produce erroneously low results so
always repeat the measurement. If you want to perform continuous
measurements sequentially, be sure to have sufficient relaxation after
each measurement to ensure accurate results.
Please note that low peak flows indicate a pending asthma attack
even though no symptoms are felt!
HOW TO PERFORM A MEASUREMENT
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Measurements can be
performed while standing, or sitting upright.
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For better
comparability of your data you should always perform the measurement
in the same position.
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Hold the monitor with
both hands.
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Inhale deeply
and hold your breath for a moment.
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Cover the
mouthpiece tightly with your lips.
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Exhale into the
measuring tube as strongly and quickly as possible!
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Take the monitor
away from your mouth and see your result in the display.
It is recommended
that three or more measurements be taken sequentially.
SELF-ASSESSMENT WITH THE TRAFFIC LIGHT SCHEME
The "traffic light scheme" allows a patient to self-assess measured
values to follow the progression of the illness. Self-assessment
empowers patients to control their asthmatic illness in close
cooperation with their physician. The physician determines a
green, a yellow and a red area for the patient's peak flow readings. As
long as the values are in the green area, the lung
disease is well
under control. If the readings are frequently in the yellow area, the
medication dosage should be increased according to the physician's
recommendation. Peak flow results in the red area are dangerous!
The patient should act as recommended by the physician or seek
emergency medical treatment.
DETERMINING THE TRAFFIC LIGHT LIMITS
Generally patients determine their own personal best value. This is
the highest value the patient can achieve under optimum conditions
(free of symptoms, feeling well).
[Example: 500 l/min.]
The green area usually reaches 80% of
the personal best value.
[Example: 500 l/min x 0.8=400 l/min]
The yellow area usually reaches 50% of
the personal best value.
[Example: 500 l/min x 0.5=250 l/min].
TEST REPORT
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