Health Tip: Checking Your Peak Flow

It can help control your asthma

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(HealthDay News) -- Measuring peak flow is important for asthmatics, as it monitors how well you can blow air from your lungs and may even help predict a pending asthma attack. Peak flow is measured with a specially designed meter.

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The U.S. National Library of Medicine says some asthmatics should keep a peak flow diary. Here are the agency's suggestions for what to record:

• The number of each peak flow reading.
• Any symptoms or possible triggers that preceded an asthma attack.
• Any recent changes affecting your asthma medications.

-- Diana Kohnle