If you’ve been diagnosed with asthma there’s a good chance you’ve done a Peak Flow either in your doctor’s office or in the hospital. A peak flow measurement is an indication of how fast you can exhale in a very short amount of time. It’s the asthmatics equivalent of a glucometer used by diabetics to check their blood sugar.

If you have moderate to severe asthma your doctor may have prescribed one for you to use at home. Some hospitals use a disposable peak flow meter and you may be able to take those home with you. No matter how you got it you should use it. You don’t need to measure your peak flow every day but it’s a good tool to use if you start feeling tight or having other indications that your asthma is starting to act up.