300 issvery good for a peak flow. I am lucky to hit 225 butI havecopd along with the asthma. Keep 300 as your baseline and for a week take your peakflow and see where it falls.

You really can't compare to other people...you need to find what your peak flow is when you don't have an exacerbation to know if 300 is good or not. My peak when really ill was the low 200s and now it is in the 400s. It is suspected that my normal is 450. My 'personal best' is 430 right now. If it sinks below 380, then I feel ill and can tell. This is just for me. I suspect your body will tell you more than the numbers but sometimes the numbers will warn you first.

O.K., now really do feel dumb. I did have a peak flow test done when I was first diagnosed but the doctor didn't say something about me checking it or what my level should be; is this something I should be doing?

Carrie-

Your doctor, or the nurse, can tell you what a "normal" peak flow would be for a person of your gender, age, weight and height as there are charts listing this information just as there are for a person's body mass index. However, in this case, what is listed as "normal" might not be normal for you as these charts are: 1) based on results from healthy subjects, and 2)based on averages from these healthy subjects. So what's "normal" for a person with asthma/COPD, especially depending on the stage of disease, might not ever be known.

It is best for you to chart your peak flow rates over a year's time noting seasonal patterns and whether your asthma is active or not. However, there are electronic peak flow devices that: 1) can tell what percentage of your lungs are blocked, 2) give results based on lung gases, which is much more accurate and effective than the plastic toys most of us are given today. The problem is these devices are: 1) often unavailable outside a doctor's office and 2) expensive as hell and not covered by insurance though in the end this would save insurance costs on meds- go figure.

All this being said, what you really need to do is call your doctor or nurse and discuss an asthma action plan based on you peak flow rates and symptoms. This will allow you to adjust your medications up and down as needed and give you a "goal" peak flow rate area to shoot for rather than playing a guessing game of what is "normal." And yes, being on the right meds, in the right dosages, should improve your peak flow rates. This is all part of having an asthma action plan.

Hopefully this will clear up any confusion. Please post what you decide to do. In general, if your peak flows are not improving despite medication, it's time to call your doctor/nurse.

I have large lungs.A few years ago my peak flows were 600.Now with meds 450-500 is good.

My sister does not have any chest condition and her peak flow is 300.
It depends what size your lungs are .

you do your personal best like mine is330 and dr said if it gets lower take fast reliee inhaler or go to dr or er

Tnaks for all your replies. I have decided to keep a record of what it is for about a month, then make a decision to go to the doctor again. I also need to be recording how often I am taking my reliever. I suspect, that I am eating the wrong foods again, which I know trigger my asthma, so I will just have to try cutting them out agian. Bugger - it includes pizza, which I love.
Cheers again
xx

A peak flow of 650 very rare.
25% of the time it is around 450 to
475 Take meds as prescribed. 60%
of the time it is around 425. More
careful about taking meds. When it
gets below 375 10% of the time I start using my nebulizer. When it is 325 or below 5% of the time get a prescription for Predgnosome.Your peak flow will depend on how hard you breath into the peak flow meter.I was told to breath as hard as you can. Not everyone's peak
flow is the same.

The peak flow should be as high as it can go, the higher the better, idealy you want it over 500 at least, when my asthma plays up it's usually 300, and in control it's usually over 700.

you have to measure your peak flow accordiong to your height wieght, lungs size age etc. I was told my peak flow should be 450 as normal, eveyday measurement. But im licky to get it above 330. I have to go to the hospital for nebulisers and injections and stuff when it drops below 220, which happens every two weeks or so. Every one is different. My best ever recorded peak flow is 410.

I think I am going to start keeping a record too. Especially since this is the time of year I usually get sick. Everyone should know their baseline, and if it starts to drop it could mean you are getting into trouble with your asthma.

peak flows have a chart, based on your height and weight. I am small (105pounds. 5 feet) and I'm supposed to be 400 or so. Sounds like you aren't getting enough air. I made an apointment with an allergist becuz im on the highest dose and i take an allergy med too, and im still 350. I think i may need to be upto 450 even.

I was told, and go by what I can "Blow" when I feel my best. Then if it is below that by 80%, bad bad sign. etc... There should be a manual that comes with your meter, too. Sometimes stickers, also, so you don't have to remember as much.

:)

I am not really sure about this. I am not a doctor. Lung capacity Ask your Doctor what your lung capacity would be for your size and height.I am over 6 feet with a large frame. My lungs run about 68 % sometimes less. My peak flow is 450 most of the time. If I were in perfect condition it would be close to 600+ I have to
nebulize below 350. I take Singular,
Advair and Flownaise. If it falls below
400 I add ProAir to the mix. Ask your
Doctor for a chart. It is good to take
your peak flow several times a day.
Peak flow meters can be gotten at the drugstore or on the net. You may need
a prescription to get at the drugstore.
It is good to keep a record. Also
blowing onto the peak flow meter
as hard as you can helps clear your
lungs.

Your peak flow reading is only a guide, and differs between different gauges. It is the amount of oxygen your lungs are able to absorb that is the important. For example, using an EU standard peak flow meter my average reading yesterday was 530, but as my lungs are damaged and their efficiency is less than 40% the actual reading would be in the region of 210. As one of the others said, you will have to record your readings over at least a year to get a true indication. My annual average reading from my meter is about 420 taken from an Excel spreadsheet.