Ive had a persistent cough and wheezing in the night for ages now. went to the docs and he said i could have asthma. he gave me a peak flow and an inhaler. my peak flow has been about 250. what shoud it be, and how do these numbers determine if i have asthma or not?
2006-11-14 19:52:08 · 16 answers · asked by Mich 3 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Respiratory Diseases
SHIRL- i forgot to mention i had a chest infection 5 weeks ago, had antibiotics
2006-11-14 19:59:23 · update #1
i am a healthy 23 year old, good diet, take plenty of exercise and dont smoke!!!
2006-11-14 20:08:09 · update #2
I have asthma and on a bad day my peak flow reads 200-300 on a good day it's 400. Try taking a reading before you take your inhaler and then take it again afterwards to see if there's an improvement. If not then u may not have asthma - maybe the antibiotics didn't clear up that chest infection.
2006-11-15 08:24:05 · answer #1 · answered by kerry j 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The peak flow doesn't determine if you have asthma or not. It measures your expiratory volume i.e how well you breathe out. It should be alot higher than what it is now. Your breathing may be difficult because of mucous plugs from the infections you have had as well as the wheezing. Peak flow varies from one person to another but in a healthy person it should be well around 450. People with respiratory illnesses usually have it checked before and after using a nebuliser. It is often above 350 after the nebuliser, but that depends on how low it was in the first place. If the inhaler helps then it probably is asthma. You may find that you are allergic to certain things like dust. That would trigger an attack. Just take a puff of your inhaler immediately if you get an attack. Always carry it on you. Good luck.
2006-11-19 09:02:26 · answer #2 · answered by cherub 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Peak Flow 400
2016-12-18 08:33:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the normal peak flow for an adult is around 400 - 450, so yours would be pretty low. the thing is to take a peak flow reading twice a day and keep a record. You can stay well at this level once you take the inhaler. I wonder what sort of inhaler it is? Is it a reliever or a preventer? I personally use a preventer, have done so for 10 years. It's much better than the reliever, and I get steady readings of 290 - 300 for my peak flow. Such a low reading indicates a problem with your breathing all right. Suggest to your GP that you would like further investigations, like a PFT. A pulmonary function test, that would give a clearer reading of how. Also ask him if he can refer you to an asthma nurse. your lungs are doing
2006-11-14 20:05:26 · answer #4 · answered by marie m 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was diagnosed with asthma about 10 years ago and was advised to use a Salbutamol Inhaler before using 'Symbicort' Dry Powder Inhaler (Twice Daily) or as required.
Many days I never take any Asthma medication - I only take it when my chest feels tight,sometimes not for many weeks,I have a lot of allergies that can trigger wheezing and then I use the medication as prescribed.
I am 60 years old and have other medical Issues and when I saw my Heart Specialist he asked what medications I take and said without carrying out any examinations "Oh, you wont have Asthma, you will have COPD' ? ...
Arrogant and obnoxious individual,I have opted never to see him again ... Anyway regarding my Peak Flow Meter reading,it is usually 550-600 and as a smoker of many years I think that is good,right ? ...
I would be interested in any comments you may have.
Thankyou in anticipation ....
2014-01-09 05:28:53 · answer #5 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
250 is quite low, although asthmatics usually go about 180-300 amazingly. If you have a cough with a wheeze, it might be just due to that rather than asthma itself.
Has he put you on steriods of any sort? If it's asthma brought on by a chest infection, he will give you inhalers to take also.
2006-11-14 19:56:02 · answer #6 · answered by Scatty 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It does deprnd on age etc, but as previoulsy mentioned anywhere around 400 -500 is normal. If you have not been given any inhailers then the dr must think it is due to chest infevtion before going down the asthma path - wait and see, readings can be lowered if you are nrevous of the result.
2006-11-14 20:04:58 · answer #7 · answered by AJ's 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anything over 500 is good. The numbers will not determine if you have asthma... it is basically a test to check your lung capacity.
You may not have asthma and still have a low score maybe because of a chest infection or a cold.
I have asthma and can score over 600 but I take my inhalers regulary and exercise.
2006-11-14 19:58:25 · answer #8 · answered by Johny0555 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Anything over 400 is good. Peak flow is not a means to diagnose asthma - it's just a measure of your lungs ability to force out air.
2006-11-14 19:55:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have some good, intelligent answers here and others are not so good.............
I just wanted to make you feel better. My peak flow has not been over 150 in years. It is usually 150 to 200. ONCE I blew a 250 and thought I was cured of my disease. I have COPD and I am 60 years old. I am not going to tell you how much I weigh!!!!!!
2006-11-19 16:28:55 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋