2007-03-20 07:10:08 · 5 answers · asked by sld_1988 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Respiratory Diseases
The peak flow is all the air pushed out of the lungs as a single puff. The FEV1 is only tha amount in the first second. It is the more useful measure to assess airways disease. However the peak flow can be measured using a mechanical meter costing a few pounds, while an accurate FEV1 requires a vitalograph costing £40-50 up to a few thousand.
2007-03-20 13:07:41 · answer #1 · answered by Dr Frank 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Peak expiratory flow is the fastest rate of air flow out of the lungs (normally the first fraction of a second of blowing out)
FEV1 is the average flow rate over the first second (the 1 stands for the first 1 second) this is usually very close to the peak flow but is not exactly the same thing.
2007-03-20 16:22:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
peak flow is much less accurate than FEV.
FEV as its a forced maneouvre can cause collapse of small airways if diseased therefore lower result. Hope this makes sense - its simlar to why a person can get a much higher result with a relaxed vital capacity than with a forced vital capacity.
On spirometry readings frequently the peak flow appears larger but in my experience noone uses the peak flow from spirometry.Peak flow is only really used in asthma, where patient can compare reading to their usual reading.
2007-03-20 15:49:14 · answer #3 · answered by mustlovedogs0 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because you make more of an effort to completely fill your lungs on peak flow and you tend to rush the forced one?
2007-03-20 14:18:14 · answer #4 · answered by Icarus 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm been pondering about that one myself Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z z z z z z z z z z z..........
2007-03-20 14:15:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋