Breathing Tests – Peak Expiratory Flow Rate

There are two commonly used breathing tests:

Peak Expiratory Flow Rate

Peak Flow measures how quickly the person can breathe air out of the lungs. It is performed using a peak flow meter.

This is a handheld device which the person blows into as hard and as fast as possible, ensuring a good seal with their mouth and the mouth piece.
It is usually used to monitor asthma.
If their asthma has deteriorated or is flaring up then the peak flow rate gets lower.
A chart to record regular measurements of peak flow over time can assess the response to acute or long term treatment.
The rate should get higher and less variable once asthma is controlled.