If you suffer from a chronic lung condition, your doctor has probably run various lung tests to help with diagnoses and treatment plans. Each one is important and plays a different role in the continual monitoring of your lung health. Two such tests are spirometry and peak flow tests. Let’s take a look at the differences and the data each one provides.
What Does a Peak Flow Meter Measure?
A peak flow meter’s purpose is to measure an individual’s overall lung capacity. To measure your peak flow, you close your lips around a device with a tube, an arrow, and numbers. You exhale slowly and forcefully. The arrow then moves to a number to indicate your peak flow level. While a “normal” number varies from person to person, a peak flow meter helps you understand where your personal “normal” is. If that number begins shifting, you should notify your doctor to develop a treatment plan.
Generally speaking, the higher your peak flow, the better. A decreased peak flow rating may indicate worsening lung conditions. It is important to take note of triggers that could be lowering your peak flow rating (e.g. weather, exercise, stress, etc.).
What Does Aluna Measure?
Your Aluna spirometer tracks a different measurement known as your FEV1%. “FEV1” indicates your “forced expiratory volume in one second.” Essentially, you inhale, then exhale into the spirometer as quickly as possible. Your Aluna device measures how much air you exhale in a second, then assigns you a percentage. The percentage indicates where your results fall compared to others of the same age, size, and sex.
An FEV1% of 80% is considered average. Although FEV1% is based on averages, remember that your normal score is exactly that. Even if you fall below 80%, that could just be your “normal.” Those who use Aluna set their benchmark during onboarding. With consistent use, a pattern will emerge giving doctors better insights regarding your lung health.
FEV1% is not a test you can fail. It merely provides extra insight as to the normal state of your health and how that state correlates to your symptoms, triggers, and to others with the same condition.
Which One is More Important?
As already mentioned, each type of lung test plays an important role in maintaining control over your lung condition. Your peak flow rating and FEV1% provide important information for both you and your doctor. However, they produce slightly different benefits.
Your peak flow rating offers the following information:
- Indication of your “safe zone” as well as your “danger zone”
- Your overall lung capacity
- The gradual incline or decline of your health (if applicable)
- Possible lung triggers (based on correlation)
Likewise, your FEV1% offers the following information:
- Where you fall in relation to others with the same lung condition and personal traits
- Your “average” personal percentage
- Small differences between your percentages from day-to-day
- Possible lung triggers (based on correlation)
