With the peak flow meter, you blow out as hard as possible and see what number you can reach. In the doctor's office, your nose is clipped and you blow out as hard as possible, for as long as possible. (My doctor uses a computerized picture in which the patient is instructed to "blow out as many candles as you can"--and some of them may be blown out not on the first hard puff, but as the patient keeps exhaling.) What is the difference in the information from the two devices? Related question: In the doctor's office, should you have more than one attempt? If so, and if your doctor just asks the patient to make the one attempt, how valid is the information that he's getting about your breathing?
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Q: How different is the information from a peak flow meter and a spirometry reading?
Answers (2)
12/30/09 7:44pm
I recently wrote a post about peak flow meters here, and soon will be posting one about pfts, so stay tuned. In the meantime, peak flow meters are generally used as a tool for you to use at home to monitor how well your asthma is doing. It determines your peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). Your doctor can use this information in the office, but it is not as reliable with what can be obtained during a PFT. Plus a PFT can provide much more information. To learn more about PFTs, check out this link.
Ideally both you should blow into a peak flow meter at least three times and record the best result. The same should be done for each test during the PFT. However, if you are unable to do three due to bad asthma or for some other reason, a doctor can still get some valueable information from one attampt.
1/ 8/10 1:35pm
Good wisdom. I also have a new post about PFTs you can link to here.
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By Patricia— Last Modified: 12/27/10, First Published: 12/22/09
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I agree with Rick, but my Dr. who is an asthma specialist always has me do 3 PFT tests, they just tell me to take my time and re-clip my nose when ready. I've been in the office when having an attack and the lung capacity was at 41%, and still did the 3 tests. I also chart peak flows several times a day in a notebook when having problems (often for a few months I chart daily) and write all the peak flow results, not just the highest one. It's a way I can check for myself if I just happened to have one good breath or if they are all pretty close. I also use a coach2 to check the breaths in and record the 5 breaths I take when I use it, again to see if they are close or if I just had one or 2 good breaths in. My doctor wants me to use it regularly to help get better breaths in as I tend to breathe shallow.
I hope this helps, Sheri.