Asthma

[Ca12345]

Hi everyone im age 25 and 6ft tall, just wondering what everyone elses peak flow is mine beetween 600-650 reading bit never have a wheeze but wake up every morning struggling to get air in my lungs??

[Poobah]

Two things could be happening overnight. 1) our natural cortisol levels are lowest overnight, but more importantly, 2) if you breath through your mouth and not your nose overnight then you will be suffering shortness of breath and fatigue. No medication is going to fix this, it's down to practice and determination to change your breathing method. Have a chat with your asthma nurse/doctor about a referral to a specialist respiratory physiotherapist. You can also research Buteyko method. There's lots of information online that will help you understand why nose breathing is necessary and how to achieve it over time.

[Dogruff]

My baseline peak flow is 610. A peak flow below 550 is my personal danger zone and 480 is hospital zone. Everyone is so different. I’m a non wheezer too.

Morning times I cough a lot more. I put it down to having a longer period between last dose of inhalers for the day and the morning compared to the rest of my doses throughout the day. I’m a nose breather.

Beat advice us to talk to asthma nurse about it as you may need your treatment tweaking or it could be something else.

[Dancric]

Hi, your issue with waking up with asthma mirrors my experience. There is quite a lot that can help;

- sleeping with your head raised.

-sleeping in a cool room (avoid having the central heating on).

- keep your windows closed at night particularly if you have a pollen allergy.

- Avoid eating at least 2 hours before bed time.

- Sleep on your left hand side.

- As Poobah said train yourself to breathe through your nose. This filters the air entering your lungs and, improves the quality of your sleep.

I was really suffering, waking up with bad asthma but all of the above have helped me.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to Dancric]

Hi, just wanted to respond to this as you've said these helped you but are also suggesting others try them. Not everything helps everyone the same way, and even home remedies or solutions that seem harmless can be a trigger for some people with asthma.

In particular, your advice to sleep in a cool room with the heating off may be helpful for you and some others. However, for some people, a room that's too cool can trigger them at night.

I have to have some heating on when it gets cooler, at a level most people wouldn't bother with it and would be happy with a cool room. If I don't keep my room above a certain temperature at night I will have a bad night with breathing. (Sounds obvious but in case anyone is wondering, a thicker duvet makes no difference because it's the air you're breathing in).

I'm aware not everyone has a problem with this and that some people do better with heating off, but equally, not everyone can tolerate a cooler room and not everyone needs the heating off.

If not eating within 2 hours of bed helped you it may be that reflux was part of the reason behind your night-time problems.

[Ca12345 in reply to Lysistrata]

Wierd thing is i never have a wheeze

[twinkly29 in reply to Ca12345]

Not all asthmatics wheeze, in fact many don't. But not all breathing symptoms are related to asthma, often they are caused by other things. The right cause needs to be found so the management is right. There is no point treating something with the wrong treatment.

[Dancric in reply to Lysistrata]

Thank you. Yes, I absolutely agree that these are not necessarily scientifically verified methods of relieving nightime asthma. As I said they have helped my situation of which acid reflux is certainly a part. Medicine is of course personalised and I posted in that spirit.

[Thomas45]

I'm 76 and 6'7" My best peak flow is now about 350

My asthma is well controlled. Diagnosis was 47 years ago. In the first few years it could be very debilitating.

[Dachshund1]

660 average for 25 year old so not bad

[Ca12345 in reply to Dachshund1]

Im age 25 get 650 but feel bad still

[pink123floyd]

morning all I am 66 and never had a peak flow more than 300/350