Flow meters

[25071936]

have been pipe smoker for 60yrs. Ia,m 79. Now have shortnes of breath when lifting .went to doctors this week had a chest X-ray and blood test .blood test good. Waiting for X-ray results . Breath flow meter reading 450 . Is this normal

[soulsaver]

It depends on your age... & height too - but 450 is normal for an 80 year old man 6ft tall...

peakflow.com/pefr_normal_va...

But...

Peak Flow meter doesn't show a full story, just rough & ready. I blow normal, but have mild obstructive disease.. If the sob concerns you/ yr Dr, you'll need spirometry for a full diagnosis.

Good luck.

[Sokrackers]

Hello and a warm welcome to the site. I am sure you will find much help advice and support from the family of members.

I can only say I had a peak flow of 100 a year ago aged 48 when I was diagnosed with severe asthma level 3 copd. With the right medication my sob has greatly improved and I can blow almost 300 so there is hope!

I am sure with the right tests and meds things will improve for you. My quality of life is so much better after diagnosis and medication also exercise and good diet.

I am sure more people will come along with help and support.

It's a fair weather day so I guess many members will be out and about today.

Take care

SK

[footyfan]

Hello there,

Hope you find that health wise you are well when getting all your results.

My own father is 74 and gets breathless if lifting things and also walking at slow/ moderate pace. He is not one for visiting the doctor and believes that it is a case of getting older only!!

These days medicine can do so much, that as a nation, we seem to have forgotten that living is in fact terminal!! - we will all become less able as we age, just some people age sooner than others perhaps?

Whilst I don't wish to imply that there isn't anything that can be done for breathlessness and that everyone should just accept it, my father believes that sometimes we must accept that we cannot do at 75 what we did at 25, 35, 45, or even 65. and I must say in that respect I agree with him.

Just because the health profession can do these things doesn't always make it right for everyone to be put through every intervention known to man.

I wish you well for the future

[Offcut]

Soulsaver has got it right it all depends on the conditions you may have. I blow 350 but I have RLD,PH and peak flow is not a good guide for me only to see as a benchmark. On a spirometry test I blow 10% higher than normal but I am empty after it.

[tulips123]

i'm 53 and somewhat overweight. i have an oxygen concentrator for separate condition + asthma, inhalers. for me, 450 would be my top target, doing well at 400-450. different lung probs, i think it would be useful to know so that you can tell whether you need to see a dr. or not. sometimes, keeping a diary can be useful too.

take care. Tulip