Hi All,
Could anyone provide me with a good peak flow meter to buy? My Doctor or pharmacist haven't been really helpful or encouraged me to buy one so was hoping I could get some assistance here.
Also what should I be looking out for with the peak flow and when should I go to a&e etc...apologies for the unknown...just would be reassuring to know what to do
Thanks
Hi, I use the Mini Wright Peak Flow Meter which you can buy on Amazon. When I was diagnosed at first (years ago now) my asthma nurse gave me one. I've since bought one as a replacement & they do the job. When I go for my asthma review they ask me to do a peak flow measurement & that's the one they use in the surgery.
I get mine on prescription .... My doctor said to go to A and E if it drops to 120
I also have always got my peak flow meters on prescription.
Do not buy from ebay (the links are there just to show you what they look like)
Best Places to buy are Amazon
amazon.co.uk/s?k=peak+flow+...
Alternatively Lloyds Chemist or other online chemists
lloydspharmacy.com/SearchDi...
(seems to be Lloyds Pharmacy only do on prescription)
The traditional international one looks like the one in this link -
haag-streit.com/clement-cla...
Common peak flow meters that are quite accurate are -
Vitalograph Peak Flow Meter (I have one like this)
ebay.co.uk/itm/Vitalograph-...
I also have an Airzone which is my more recent one - this has red/yellow and green markers which you can set based on the percentage ranges.
It's REALLY important when it comes to measuring/tracking your peak /flow to get to know your normal/best (when well) and to IGNORE anyone saying things like "oh that's good.... mine is only...." or "you don't need to seek help until...."
Peak flow, as with pretty much anything asthma related 😅, is very personal. You should have a plan which lays out parameters for you in relation to your best peak flows, your symptoms (including peak flow but other things bedsides), presentations and triggers - and then what you should do at each stage. Your ranges may well be related to the expected levels for someone of your age and height - but they may not. I know people whose expected best is 400 but their best is actually 630. So blowing a 400 puts them at 60% of their best and that's not good. On the other hand my expected should be about 400 but is nowhere near that now so we don't go on the 400.
When you've got a meter, I'd start by measuring your peak flow (deep breath in, tight seal round mouthpiece and blow out as hard and fast as you can) twice a day, best of 3 goes each time. It doesn't matter if you do it before or after your preventer inhaler as long as you know which it is in case people ask and as long as it's consistent. I do it pre meds but others do it after. Over a couple of weeks you'll get a feel for your normal range. That's a good place to start anyway! Once you've got some data, your GP or asthma nurse should be able to help with a plan for you - or the Asthma UK nurses might over the phone if your own GP/nurse are not helpful.
As for meters, I think you can buy a peak flow meter from the pharmacy.
Yes to everything here!
Get to know your personal best and then get a management plan based on those numbers from your Dr (but as a rough guide most tend to say green zone from 80-100%, amber zone from 50-80%, red zone from 33-50% and black zone below 33%).
Having a plan based on your own numbers is really important because it makes a big difference in treatment if you present with certain numbers - just using the example of 120 someone said above, if my grandma had that peak flow it would be about 60% of her best so she would probably just need a course of oral steroids. But if I present with a peak flow of 120 its below 25% of my best and they're normally considering an ITU review or transfer to HDU for treatment!
You can get a generic action plan to fill in from the Asthma UK website here:
asthma.org.uk/advice/manage...
It has info on what each section consists of (as it isn't just based on peak flow alone) and what to do in each section.
As twinkly29 says you can normally get them on prescription but this is the type that is used in hospitals and would normally be issued on prescription:
Absolutely agree on the measurements. Peak flow is just one part of asthma and it has a complex relationship with severity overall and how bad you are at any one time; it needs to be taken as part of the overall context and as part of YOUR asthma as Twinkly29 says.
I am one of those who is predicted in the 400s and gets 630 as best. Not only that but my peak flow doesn't drop neatly as it does for some; I have learned that I cannot wait and ignore everything else for my peak flow to get below 50% of my best or I'll be in a bad way. I've learned how I *can* use it as a tool for me (when I get bad my inhaler stops helping my peak flow and symptoms; so it's not 'oh it's 400' but 'it's 400 post neb still and I can't talk in sentences or walk around so yes I need A and E now.' )
I have had bad attacks and still stuck on 400 so good job I didn't wait. I may also be 400 and be just a bit short of breath and not needing anything beyond a couple of puffs of reliever - so again context is key.
Hopefully you won't need too much experience with the A and E end but I definitely agree about not relying on peak flow alone, learning what is best for you and not going off averages or other people's results.
I’ve got the Mini Wright one too. After using an inhaler for at least 20 years someone discovered I didn’t have one and one was prescribed for me.
Very good advice from the others. Know what’s good for you and have an asthma plan that you have made in conjunction with your asthma nurse, it is a very useful thing to have.
A couple of years ago a new asthma nurse arrived and decided that my 390/400 wasn’t good enough for me and was very sniffy - I wasn’t impressed with that at all.
I got back home and looked up a chart based on sex, height and age and discovered that my 390/400 was better than expected for me. So I know where I want it to be and make sure it stays there.
I use my peak flow before I use my preventer although I often do it again afterwards purely because I like to see it rise.
I use the vitalograph one used in hospitals and given to me by my asthma nurse!
I had one from my asthma nurse as keeping a record of your peak flow is standard practise for asthmatics. Just google and buy one - they cost about £10 and are called Wrights peak flow . Make sure you check on the peak flow chart what your target is and start to record - I noticed a drop after eating Chinese food some years ago - it’s really good at highlighting small drops in performance
healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...
Hopefully this will answer all your questions 😉😂
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