What is everyone's peak flow number? - Asthma Message Board

Solaray2 · 07-18-2006, 05:10 PM

I would like to know the average peak flows (90% of the time)
of women in my age group (age 30 to 45)
who have asthma or chronic asthma like myself.

My tends to be always very low in the morning and is usually (90% of time)around 200.
It concerns me that its so low being that a normal rate should be at least double that number.
I find it hard getting myself ready in the morning on time because I feel like I have to recover (lung function wise)
which takes at least 1 hour after waking up.

Although today for the first time and only time since being diagnosed w/asthma (6/05) I got a 300.
Unfortunately is was only a 1 time thing so far.
Perhaps my Flovent(antiinflamatory)/4th shot of Xolair/Singulair might be kicking in??

PREDICTED AVERAGE PEAK FLOW FOR WOMEN

A
g
e
******************Height in Inches
******************55" **60" **65" **70"** 75"
20****************444**460**474**486**497
25****************455**471**485**497**509
30****************458**475**489**502**513
35****************458**474**488**501**512
40****************453**469**483**496**507
45****************446**462**476**488**499
50****************437**453**466**478**489
55****************427**442**455**467**477
60****************415**430**443**454**464
65****************403**417**430**441**451
70****************390**404**416**427**436
75****************377**391**402**413**422

Howitt44 · 07-19-2006, 10:24 PM

I am 49 years old, female, and 63 inches tall. My peak flow is usually 450 or 460. If I do not use my medication daily (Advair), it can go down to around 400 or 420 and I really can tell the difference. My asthma is chronic also. We have recently moved to the country where there are a lot of trees around that I'm allergic to and I can tell a difference when I'm outside. I sneeze a lot and my nasal passages get really dry. But back to the peak flows, - mine do not have to go down much before I really seem to struggle to breathe. I walked across the street to my neighbors house one morning and noticed on the way back I was huffing and puffing. I took my peak flow expecting it be around 300 or so and it was 430! But if I take my meds right and use my nasal sprays, I am much better.
Cindy

Solaray2 · 07-22-2006, 08:30 AM

Hi Howitt44,

Thanks for your reply.

Your peak flows are great. It sounds like you started your meds/treatment for your asthma symptoms right away before they got out of hand and caused permanent airway remodeling (lung damage/permant reduced lung capacity)

I guess I justed wanted to see had bad mine was as compared to others.

My pulmonary doctor sees patients mostly that are on oxygen tanks and/or elderly so I dont think he takes my condition as seriously.
I believe he should because if this condition is not treated properly I could end up like all his other worst case scenario patients.
He doesn't have asthma so I dont expect him to relate but I do expect him to care, educate his patients, provide info, alternatives, etc.

I believe I waited too long myself to receive proper treatment
(anti-inflammatory/xolair/etc) & thats why I can never get a high peak flow that I should be getting.

In the beginning for the first year I was just self treating myself w/Bendryl antihistamine figuring the symptoms would go away & my body would eventally adjust to the cats/mold/and other allergy triggers.

As it progressed to breathing problems I self treated myself with Primatene Mist.

Over a year of this had past & now the Primatene mist & Benedryl stopped working and I than sought medical attention where I received Albuterol (rescue bronchodilator), Advair(anti-inflammatory & Long acting bronchodilator), and Singulair (reduces allergy response).

Even though asthma symptoms are reversable by meds.
It looks like you cant reverse the airway remodeling (scar/lung damage/reduced capacity) thats caused by the chronic asthma not properly treated on time.

I guess I am one of those Primatene Mist Casualties (treating myself with this over the counter med for a year) instead of seeking medical attention right away.