peak flow?

What does it actually measure?

Your lung capacity or how well you can blow out?

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it measures the ammount of air you can blow out (in litres per min), which shows how much your lungs can hold .. so ur lung capacity!! so its a bit of both i guess!!

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Thanks x

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Although peak flow does measure how much you blow out, it doesn't actually measure your full lung capacity - this can only be measured by formal spirometry, and is described by the measurement of FVC, or functional vital capacity.

Peak flow is a measure of how fast you can move air out of your lungs, and is therefore a proxy measurement of how wide your bronchial tubes are. If you imagine a drain pipe with water flowing through it - if it's a nice wide pipe, then lots and lots of water will be able to run through it at any one time. If you've got a narrow drain pipe, then much less water can flow through it. Now imagine that your bronchial tubes are the ""drainpipes"" and the ""water"" is air moving out of your lungs, and that's the concept of peak flow.

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Cath- what an excellent way of explaining pf i will try to remember it for next time i have to explain to someone what it is!! Chloe says Hi and see you next yr!!

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Hi Chloe!! I'm sure So'ton will be quiet this year without her!

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Ooh, Cath - reading your description of peak flow has given me a case of ""Kick Asthma volunteer training medical session"" deja vu!!

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Oh yeah, knew I'd used it recently but couldn't remember when....!

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That's a good one, Cathy, I must remember that!

Em x

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Its very cleaver how it actually works then, my peak flow seems really bad to me, i only get between 200-240 in the morning, and 280-300 in the evening.

i use my bectide, but it makes me cough and my throat seems dry and my vioce gets husky, so i dont use it as much, as for my ventoline, i get heart plpitations, and the shakes too?? does any one else get this?

Jen x

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jenz best way to help solve probs with becotide is to use thro a spacer and then rinse your mouth after. as 4 ventolin it does have tendancy to increase heart rate but something u get used to.

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thank you Katherine,

i have got a doc appt on monday so i will ask for one then, and as for the ventoline been using it for the past 17yrs and i still aint use to it lol never mind uh