Peakflow

My peakflow at the Drs was between 190 and 200!!

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peakflow

Dont worry after a while the peak flow starts to improve once the meds kick in and work!

best wishes and regards

Toria

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I'm only on salbutamol reliever inhaler!

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im sure if your GP was concerned they would have done something about it? The problem with peak flow is its alot down to technique? You dont say what you can usually get or what your GP said?

Andrea

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Hi! I am having a spirometery test with teh nurse on 26th jan

That aws the first peak flow I had done

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Hi Fluffyfish

Here is a link to a table to calculate what your normal peak flow should be:

peakflow.com/top_nav/normal...

Everyone has their own 'normal' and you will learn what is normal and what is worrying for you. However, 200 is a bit low for someone so young - it should be at least 400. However, as Andrea said a lot of it can be down to technique - you might well get better with practice. As long as your GP is aware that it is low and you are having spirometry and seeing them again it sounds like everything is in hand.

If you become very breathless or the reliever inhaler is not working, you should seek medical attention - call your emergency doctor or dial 999.

Take care

Em H

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Thanks! I am very new to this! What does low peakflow mean?

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Peak flow is one test of lung function. Low peak flow is a sign of air flow obstruction and by far the most common cause of air flow obstruction in a young person is airway narrowing due to asthma.

Peak flow is used as a way of diagnosing asthma (typically the peak flow will be low and will improve with bronchodilator drugs like salbutamol) and is also used as a way to monitor asthma. If your asthma is well controlled there should not be any significant airway narrowing and your peak flow should be at your normal or predicted value. If your asthma is poorly controlled, your peak flow will be low, and will often be significantly lower in the morning than in the evening. An average peak flow of a third below your predicted or best is very suggestive of poor control.

If you have been recently diagnosed with asthma, your doctor may well want to increase your medication slowly, starting you on a reliever inhaler and monitoring the effects of that, and then introducing other medication as necessary. While you are new to asthma and your medication is being increased your doctor will probably want you to monitor your peak flow between 2 and 4 times daily. Once your asthma is under control and you do not have symptoms, you may not need to check it so often. Checking it when you feel well, though, can be a good way of picking up any deterioration in your asthma earlier than you would otherwise.

Hope this helps - feel free to ask any other questions!

Em

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Peak flow is one test of lung function. Low peak flow is a sign of air flow obstruction and by far the most common cause of air flow obstruction in a young person is airway narrowing due to asthma.

Peak flow is used as a way of diagnosing asthma (typically the peak flow will be low and will improve with bronchodilator drugs like salbutamol) and is also used as a way to monitor asthma. If your asthma is well controlled there should not be any significant airway narrowing and your peak flow should be at your normal or predicted value. If your asthma is poorly controlled, your peak flow will be low, and will often be significantly lower in the morning than in the evening. An average peak flow of a third below your predicted or best is very suggestive of poor control.

If you have been recently diagnosed with asthma, your doctor may well want to increase your medication slowly, starting you on a reliever inhaler and monitoring the effects of that, and then introducing other medication as necessary. While you are new to asthma and your medication is being increased your doctor will probably want you to monitor your peak flow between 2 and 4 times daily. Once your asthma is under control and you do not have symptoms, you may not need to check it so often. Checking it when you feel well, though, can be a good way of picking up any deterioration in your asthma earlier than you would otherwise.

Hope this helps - feel free to ask any other questions!

Em