What factors can negatively affect peak flow?

[GreatGateway]

Are there things that can make peak flow lower in normal people? For example, lying down, body posture, shallow breathing or anxiety/stress?

Whenever I take my peak flow, I have to raise my arm to place the peak flow meter in my mouth, but I feel like this opens my airways a little and affects my results.

[Hidden]

Hi GreatGateway

Strange you mention that I have done some exercises with the physio today to help me increase my lung capacity and that increased my peak flow up to 300ml at first lying down and finally to 350 standing up. He said if I do them regularly I could get up to 400..while I am a little 250/270 at the moment.

Always breathe in forcing your stomach out first and then expand your chest and breathe out pushing your stomach in and then your chest.

Then he made me do it in steps, I have to pause and hold when I breathe out 3 times

also had to pause and hold when I breathe in through my nose 3 times.

you practise those exercises 5 times each

finally we did them with arms up behind my head as well.

Hope it helps answering your question. Bye for now xx

[Minushabens]

I doubt anyone has a universal peak flow; anybody's can be affected by all manner of things. What distinguishes asthma is that it is affected by particular triggers; commonly allergies.

As long as you're taking your PF the same way every time, I don't think it matters if your movement does anything, as you are comparing like with like.