Got spirometry and told lungs were not great on ready. Commenced on Fostair 200 2 puffs night and morning. Been off work for 3 weeks took viral infection which I think ended up as flu and went deep into my chest causing fever, chills, sweats, breathlessness. I am never breathless unless take really bad viral infection, why is this? So fed up just now as back in bed!
Peak Flow is your best peak flow the best of three times blowing into device.
Not really sure about asthma at all as never even knew I had it until did spirometry at Consultant's appointment. What should my peak flow be does anyone know.
Help!
KR
Lizzie
Written by
Lizzy54
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
You can calculate your predicted peak flow as a rough guide to start with, though once your medication starts to kick in you may find your actual best is higher or lower. This site helps with a rough guide: omnicalculator.com/health/p...
Predicted peak flow is just an average of all the people with the same age, sex and height as you (and I think ethnicity can also be a factor), but some people will naturally be higher or lower. For example, for someone who's done a lot of sports and/or played a wind or brass instrument when they were younger, the actual best might be higher than predicted, or for an ex-smoker it might be lower.
This post may help - it's all about peak flow, literally! healthunlocked.com/asthmauk... The important thing to remember is that you're always comparing against yourself - not someone else, and any asthma plan you have should reflect your own best result when you have it. I might be admitted to hospital with a peak flow that's really good for someone else, but I still see people who are twice my age, 8 inches shorter than me, and smoked for years wondering why their best ever peak flow is so much lower than what I can get when I'm well, even though I have severe asthma. (I'm a woman, but relatively tall former oboist with big lungs, but twitchy airways).
As you're new to asthma and not sure about it, you may also find these posts helpful:
You can always contact the asthma nurses too with any questions, they're happy to chat through with you: 0300 2225800 M-F 9-5 and WhatsApp - 07378 606728.
Glad it was helpful! I don't think you can save my reply directly, but you can save Lizzy54's post which should save my reply too (scroll to the top, there's a save post button under her post). And if you click on the links, you can save those posts too if you find them helpful.
Thanks, I hadn’t spotted the Save Post button! Sorry to be dim, but once I’ve saved it how do I find it again? I’m using my iPhone and when I open the Health Unlocked website it goes straight to news feed
I had to work that out! If you go to My feed (top left) then there's a box top left with your profile picture and username and under that it has an option for Saved posts (I don't think I can screenshot).
I'm just about to start Fostair 200 having been on Clenil for several years. I would give my eye teeth to have a peak flow of 400 - my best is 150! good luck
LysistrataAdministratorCommunity Ambassador in reply to hoven
As I said to Lizzie above, it's not really helpful to compare peak flow with others. There are multiple factors relating to your personal best peak flow and even to your predicted, and they're not necessarily related to how good your asthma is. A higher peak flow than yours doesn't mean the asthma is better or more controlled.
400 would be mid yellow zone for me and I have severe asthma. Also, since for some people like me peak flow by itself is not the best guide to what my asthma is doing, I can be sitting in A&E resus with a peak flow in th 300s (which for me is low to mid yellow zone), having a severe asthma attack based on other markers.
your peak should be what’s right for you. 400 for me is good. I’m on Fostair 200 and spiriva both suit me I’m also on mepolizumab injections every four weeks. My asthma is normally well controlled but responds to change in weather so has been a bit iffy the past couple of weeks. Hope you feel better soon 😊 x
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
If my peak flow has always been low what will spirometry reveal?
Confused re peak flow
Constant green phlegm since March 2023 
New adult onset asthma
