Can anyone tell me what a normal peak flow reading should be?
Mine is without my chest infection 200 and with a chest infection 175 and I wondered if I am on the right inhalers as there are many to choose from. I thought that a steroid inhaler if working well meant you do not have to use the reliever but in my case I have to use both which worries me.
It depends on your gender, height and age. There are charts which will tell you what your expected peak flow will be which can be accessed on line. Google the name of your peak flow metre and request charts and you should be able to find out what your expected peak flow reading should be.
That said, there is a certain amount of natural variation (mine, for example, is considered by my local surgery to be at the low end of the acceptable range for someone of my age and height).
I don't know your gender, height and age, but for me (female, 5ft 3ins, and 54) a peak flow reading of 200 would be considered unacceptably low by my GP. The fact that you are having to take both steroid inhaler and reliever inhalers regular suggests that you asthma is not controlled. I really do recommend you make an urgent appointment with your GP to check things out. If the receptionist says one isn't available for a few days, explain the situation, and say you will be happy to see any doctor, but you do need to see one. You shouldn't be needing to take a reliever inhaler on a regular basis like that.
Thanks for that information. I am 65 and 5ft 6ins. female.I will do what you say and download peak flow. I go to an asthma clinic once a year to check on my asthma its when I get a infection I really struggle.
Given that, I really do urge you to see your doctor, and soon. In the past I have been in the situation where I was needing to take ventolin on a fairly regular basis (this was decades ago before I had a peak flow metre). I coped until I picked up a really nasty little bug, and then things went out of control rapidly. I ended up being sent to A&E in an ambulance by one of the local doctors, and spent the next five days in hospital. It was as a result of that episode that I was given my first peak flow metre.
Thanks I will speak to my GP this week. The more difficult it is to breath the more I panic and it becomes a vicious cycle. I wondered what the best inhaler are as there seems so be many.
Give your local surgery a call first thing tomorrow morning and see if they can fit you in. As I said before, explain the situation. You really don't need to carry on as you are at the moment. And you're right - it is frightening when breathing gets difficult, and panicking will only make things worse; stress is a known trigger for asthmatics. If things get really difficult before you manage to see a doctor at your local surgery, you could always try your closest A&E.
Re inhalers, yes there are quite a few, but different asthmatics respond well to different inhalers. Finding the right medication (or right combination) can take time and will be for your doctor to decide after discussing the situation with you. I've been relatively lucky in that I've been using the same inhaled steroid for almost twenty years, only the strength has been increased in that time. The one I was on prior to that, however, was not as successful. Once you find the one that is right for your asthma it can make such a difference.
Good luck
Thanks Maggie. I have an appointment for tomorrow. I didn't like taking the steroid inhaler because apparently it leaks calcium from your bones as I am getting old I was wary of using it. I am on Bricanyl 0.5 g turbo haler blue reliever and the steroid brown Pulmicort 200 twice a day. I had whooping cough and pneumonia as a child also tonsils and adenoids out, 20 years ago I was a heavy smoker so really I'm sure that has left me with a very bad chest.Now I am paying the price.
Well, I've been on inhaled steroids for almost thirty years and as far as I'm aware my bones are still pretty strong. Being female and 54 I am watching my calcium intake now as there is an increased risk of osteoporosis for any woman post menopause. If you have concerns about this risk, discuss it with your GP when you see him/her
My normal peakflow is around 400 when controlled well, but that's usually during the warmer months. I've just had the flu despite having a flu jab and my reading is a lot lower.
Wow!! that a good peak flow I am only 250 on a good day. Just getting over a chest infection and went down to 175. I get the flu jab every year and still get chest infections it must be my age.
Peak flow
Peak flow and trial of treatment
Low peak flow
peak flow measurements
