Peak flow is a measure of how quickly you can blow air out of your lungs. It is a quick and easy test you can do yourself using a peak flow meter, which a healthcare professional can give to you. You can keep the meter and measure your peak flow whenever you like.
We may ask you to keep a peak flow diary. This is when you measure and document your peak flow several times a day, every day, for a fixed period (usually four continuous weeks). This helps us to understand how your lungs work in different environments, such as at home versus at work. Although this can be a tiresome task, it is a very important test which helps us to reach a diagnosis in many cases, for conditions such as occupational asthma.
More details are below. You can also download guidance and templates here:
- Download instructions on how to measure your peak flow and send us your results
- Download a peak flow diary for writing down your measurements and other important information
