Anyone know what the normal peak flow reading would be for someone who is 6ft, 24 years old. I am a smoker. I have read various websites and some say it should be 500 and others say not as much as that and one even said 630, I cant get near that ! I was just wondering. I dont suffer with asthma.
Any help would be great.
Thanks.

You probably can't get near that because you're a smoker. The chart that came with my peak flow meter says 611 is your goal.

Does smoking really affect it that much ? I am a guy aswell by the way.610 Mmmmm.I am going to quit smoking very soon.

The chart with my meter says between 622-640. Yep, I would guess it's the smoking, too. For instance, my husband is 34, around 5' 9", and a smoker. His should be around 643 according to my chart, but he's doing good to get 350-400. I really wish he'd quit smoking, too, but so far nothing has induced him to do so. I'm hoping that maybe his bad levels are because he wasn't trying hard enough or didn't do it right, even though I explained how. For your health's sake, do quit smoking...I used to smoke, and I can tell you you'll feel so much better if you do quit.

Melissa

Asthmatics have stronger respiratory muscles than normal people do,
probably because we make more efforts in our everyday breathing consciously or unconsciously.
Considering this, our peak flow should go (far) beyond the standard value for
normal people.

Thanks for the replies.I can do about 550 - 575 so I guess its not that bad.Hopefully I will be able to give up soon !

What is normal for a female, , 36 y.o. and 5'4"? I am guessing it is way above my top reading of 350. I work in a mold environment and this has caused me major breathing problems. It has been struggle with my employers to get this addressed, and I know that I cannot continue working in the environment for much longer. It has been very bad (the mold) for the past eight months. There is visible mold on many of the ceiling tiles.

Should be around 380 according to my chart.

I don't remember a chart coming with mine! I'm 59, 5'2", 107 lbs, run 8 miles a week, female and the best I can do is about 375-400. It doesn't keep me from doing anything...just take a couple of hits off the Albuterol, wait 15 min and go run, mow the grass, etc. I hoped after I got back to jogging that my peak flow might increase but it hasn't...oh well..

My peak flow is always lower than it should be.

Goal: 460
Best I Can Do: 375ish

Titchou,
I would think running would strengthen your lungs and make your peak flow higher. I am 48, female, 5'2" and if I take my medications every day (Advair), my peak flow stays around 470-500. But if I try to jog/run, I can't go very far without getting out of breath. Of course, part of that I'm sure is being overweight! Right now I'm working on that at the gym; I power walk hoping to build up to a jog eventually.

Howitt44:

I thought so too but it didn't seem to make much difference....since I never had a peak flow test when I didn't ahve asthma, I don't know what it would have been normally. Maybe I just have small lungs!

I'm female, 28 and 5'3" I'm not sure what my reading was before the albuterol but after it was 375. I was told my reading was normal. Does that sound right?

I have an appointment on Friday so I'll get a copy of the results then to see what my first number was. I don't particularly trust my doctor :rolleyes: and am in the process of switching.

Anyway, I'm glad someone asked this question :) .

Love and Prayers, Kelly

Its good at know what your normal is, esp if it is higher than the chart says. My reading is usually really good. I'm 21, 5'8" and I can get up to 550 on a good day. Before I got sick with Fibro I could get up to high 600's. I had an allergic reaction today and went to the health center. There the peak flow was low for me- highest was about 420. But because that is supposed to be normal, they said I was mostly ok. :rolleyes: If they had looked at MY chart they would see it was not normal for me. And then they kept yelling at me to take slow deep breaths so I wouldn't hyperventilate. I wanted to yell back that maybe if they helped me (or at least got me a paper bag) I would do better, but of course I didn't have the breath or the energy to say any of this. :yawn:

I used to play the flute in band and I know how to breath from physical therapy and aerobics and chi gong where I have had that really stressed so I'm always glad to have a good lung capacity. Of course, good can be relative.

It is relative - I agree, kyethra. My normal range is 490 to 550. (5'6", age 30) One day when I went to get allergy shots, I actually hit 560 once - but that was prior to the tree pollen coming out. Right now with the trees out, I am lucky to do 520. I really don't feel well if I am below 460 or so.

I have a pretty good peak flow for my age and height also. I am 48, female, 5'3" and I have been running around 470 to 500. I have been exercising which I think is increasing my lung capacity. I get my heart rate up there so that my lungs are really working. Anyway, I still have low readings for my small airways according to my spirometry test. Does anyone else have this? They stay at 50% of normal. My doctor doesn't seemed concerned with this. She says they may never be 100%! She has explained this in part by saying that its chronic inflammation and that the small airways are so small anyway that any decrease will show up in a dramatic way. I am really glad my peak flow is good and I take Advair faithfully, try to eat a good diet and exercise. I need to lose about 70 lbs. though! I also have a small hiatal hernia that sometimes presses up on my diaphragm. My doctor says it would help my asthma to lose the weight. Any thoughts on her diagnosis and most important, does anyone else suffer in the small airways more than the large ones? Thanks,
Cindy

I have only ever done a peak flow once in the ER. After a mask I was 350. Does anyone know what normal would be for a 5'6 female? On that day I was really not doing well (I was much better when I hit the 350) but I am curious as to what my normal should be.

How is your technique? Do you sit or stand up straight? Do you inhale as much as you can and blow out as forcefully as you can? Is your Peak flow meter free from debri? Is it old, does the flea stick? Do you hold the Peak flow horizontally when you blow?

The peak flow meter numbers given by the nomogram are guideline numbers. Some people just can't reach those "set values". I am a former smoker of 10 years and I could reach my set value even when smoking. It really depends on the individual. That's not to say nothing is going on though but it doesn't mean there is either.

The key with the peak flow is to know your "normal" so when you do have a flair up of asthma you will know when to seek help. If you don't have asthma, the peak flow isn't really given to people, as it's used as a predictor of how someone with asthma is doing at a given point in time.

If you are concerned that your Forced Expiratory Volume is lower than normal you should see your doctor. He/She can check you out and possibly order a Pre and Post bronchodilator PFT.

Nicole,
What is your age? The two main factors in determining peak flow averages are age and height.
By the way, anyone out there who can answer my question about small airways?

I don't know an answer to your small airway question, unless it includes a small throat. I've been told that I have a small opening in the back of my mouth - which may explain why sometimes my post-nasal drip might not be bad in other people, but I am sometimes choking because of the last of space back there. I am having such a problem now. I thought it was just allergies, but now I am not sure sure.

Before getting on all the medications I'm on now, (including advair 100/50 - down from 500/50, singulair, allegra, albuterol as needed within reason), my peak flow probably averaged at least 100 points lower than it gets to now when I am well.