peak flow

[june7172]

i had my peak flow done last week and it averaged 260, rechecked today and was averaging 280. i have been referred for a breathing test. i am a 40yr old female and as far as i know do not have asthma, should i be worrying. as i am, help !!!

[Sqad]

Well.....I don't know your height, but that figure is certainly a bit low.

Should you be worried?..............no

Should I be worried with those results?..........no not really.

Probable cause without knowing anymore of your symptoms is probably..................late onset asthma.

[june7172]

my height is 5'7''. i was being shown how to do a peak flow on patients when this was descovered by a respiratory doctor. i have had a cough for ages but didnt think anything of it.

[Sqad]

So I guess you are a nurse June.
Persistent cough in a woman of 40 years of age, with a low peak flow performance "smacks" of late onset asthma.
Of course, spirometry is only an "indicator" you will certainly need a chest X-Ray at least.

[daffy654]

Are you a smoker?

[rowanwitch]

Welcome to the club developed asthma in my late 40s...non smoker (never smoked) just an annoyance no big deal once you get your head round it. I was a nurse too I blame working with Cidex in the early 1990s but can't prove it

[anneasquith]

is a peak flow of 280 really low ?

[rowanwitch]

Depends how tall you are... at best mine is now around 340 and I am the same height as June7172 it used to be better than 450... its sort of at a level where you want to investigate further...