Help! Please tell me how to choose peak flow meter?

[asthmajack]

Hi, guys,

I have got asthma this week, and my doctor told me that I should get a peak flow meter to monitor my asthma.

But right now, there are too many peak flow meters in the market, can you guys tell me how to choose one? which one is better? Thank you in advance.

[allmymarbles]

I use "Assess." It is easy, cheap, and accurate.

[bsmsl]

Any of the manual ones are great.  Readings may varry from one device to another, but that doesn't matter as long as you are consistent in using your own device and compare your values to only that device.  The idea is that it will indicate if you are stable and healthy or declining and in need of more agressive treatment.  

For the manual ones, the simpler the better.  A simple tube with a sliding indicator works very well.  I prefer ones where the indicator is "outside" and can be reset easily by sliding it back to the start position.  There are models where the indicator is inclosed and has to be shaken back to the start position.  My daughter has that kind and it is annoying to have to shake it back down.  I do like the ones that have a handle that flips down though.  Not having a handle can make using the device a little akward.

My allergist recently switched my to the Piko-1.  It is a nice little device, but I am so confused with the FEV1 readings.  They are in the green zone while my peak flow readings are in the mid to low yellow zone.  When I first switched, I did compare the peak flow reading of the new device and my old one.  They were pretty close, so I know it isn't varriation in the devices.  (I am also checking with my old device still just to make sure.)

The Piko-1 is probably the best electronic device.  It keeps some where around 80 testings in storage.  It has computer software availabe that can download the data from the device and plots it for you so that you can see trends.  The device goes in an infrared docking station for the download process.  I don't have the program though.  I have built my own tracker in Excell and iput my data myself daily.

I hope that helps you some.  

Take care and feel better.