Home Lung Function Test

Lung Function Testing, Home

Why It Is Done

Testing your peak expiratory flow (PEF) at home may help:

• Measure how well your lungs are working if you have a long-term (chronic) lung disease, such as asthma.
• Guide the treatment and monitor the effectiveness of treatment for asthma. Peak expiratory flow monitoring provides information to help people with asthma make better treatment decisions.
• Monitor your lung function if you are regularly exposed to substances at work that can damage your lungs (occupational asthma).
• Measure improvement in your lung function if you are starting an exercise program or stopping smoking.
• Monitor for early signs of rejection if you have had a lung transplant.

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: January 24, 2007
Medical Review:	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine R. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care, Medical Toxicology
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