Hi peeps
Just wondering how important it is to keep track of your peak flow? I check it when my chest is tight and I’m struggling but apart from that I don’t really bother...
Is it worth checking it regularly? I tend not to really worry about these things as I don’t feel things are that bad... but I’ve seen people talking about it on other groups.
I check mine every day
Your peak flows are important indicators of how your lungs function. If you’ve been tracking them accurately, and also noting when they are worse, what triggers you’re exposed to, you will gain invaluable insights into how YOU function.
Every body is different. Each person responds a little differently to medications, to triggers, to the stress of an attack. I was lucky as a teenager in the early 1970s (before we had peak flow meters) to be taught by my pulmonologist how to assess my breathing and my overall health/triggers each day. It saved my life on several occasions because I got to the ER quickly enough for intervention.
But peak flows are so much more precise.
It seems like such a pain initially, but I promise it’s worth it. Create a simple spreadsheet and print it out. Mine has the lines in the first column for the date then columns for the reading, time taken (remember 1st one is taken before you eat, drink or take ANY medication!), any symptoms (chest tight, hard to catch my breath etc) or triggers (Tree pollen Is very high etc). Repeat those columns across the page.
Initially — when you are well — you should do a peak flow reading 1st thing in the morning, then perhaps 2-3 more times, with the last one just before bed. You will get to the point where you know, based on your readings, when you are likely to start an attack — and can head it off by changing your meds.
Taking the spreadsheet with you to your doctor’s appointments will give him/her valuable information, too. In my experience, it’s what turns the relationship between us into a working partnership.
Try it! It really will help!
Hi Chatterbox94,
That's a good question. Some people monitor Peak Flows daily - it helps to know what your "normal" is when you feel well and no symptoms vs when you are having a hard time with symptoms. Sometimes your peak flow may drop before you are really symptomatic. If used with an asthma action plan it will help you determine what to do if it drops (along with your symptoms). There are apps that you can download on your smart phone to help you track your peak flow, medications, symptoms and much more. The one I use is "Storylines" a self-care tool for managing asthma. It is available through allergyasthmanetwork.org. search - "storylines" and it will take you directly to page that tells you how to download it to your phone.
Hope this is helpful!
Struggling with severe asthma and the opinions people have on my condition
If it's not one thing it's another
