Peak flow

[Numberone1]

I'm currently recording my peak flow for 14 days which the asthma nurse says will tell her if I have asthma but I don't get how. Can anyone shed any light on this for me pls?

[PMRPete]

"To measure your peak flow, you take a deep breath in and blow as fast as you can into a small, hand-held plastic tube called a peak flow meter. The measurement taken is called your peak flow."

asthma.org.uk/advice/manage...

[jaqguineapig in reply to PMRPete]

Hi my consultant has told me peak flow is just a guide and its the symptoms that are important. We all have a peak flow we should be able to reach, mine is 420 but since my asthma got worse its 300 at best. However I do monitor my peak flow as its a good guide when i have symptoms like coughing, breathlessness and a tight chest and my peak flow is dropping, I know its bad and I have to get to the docs as soon as possible. Hope that helps.

[Minushabens]

Peak flow tells you how much air (measured in Litres/minute) you can blow out of your lungs, & captures the peak expiry (usually in the first second or two). There are standardised measures that tell the nurse what someone of your age, height & gender should normally blow out. A reading more than a certain percentage below that is an indicator of asthma.

She may give you an inhaler at that point, & if your PF increases that would go a long way to confirming her suspicion.

Hope that helps.

[healthwish]

U need proper spirometry tests at hospital to diagnose asthma. Peak flow if low suggests asthma . Ring asthma helpline nurse they give excellent advice. See uk aathma online.

[Superzob in reply to healthwish]

I agree - asthma is diagnosed because the airways restriction is reversible. Just taking Peak Flow readings wil simply confirm whether there is a possible restriction, not whether it is caused by asthma. For that to be diagnosed, you would need to see if PF improved after using an inhaler.