Peak Flow Readings

[CowTown]

I've read so much lately about everyone's FEV1s, so I was wondering how they relate to the peak flow readings.
What are our FEV1s (again or not...) and your Peak Flow numbers?

And, anyone doing the OO, what have your Peak Flow numbers done?

 

[anonymous]

Are you referring to that plastic measuring device that you blow into and it measures three hundred three fifty etc...?

This is no reflection on FEV1 Fev1 is the amount of air you can exhale in one second. I believe the peak flow measures the amount of forced air you can blow out similar to a FVC but I am not certain. THe peak flow is good for asthmatics. Not to take these plastic things seriously. It is better than nothing if you have no machine and cannot get to the doctors office. I would use it if you have one. IT is good for incentives to keep you trying harder with your treatments oo or tobi or whatever you use to clear your lungs

Risa

 

[CowTown]

Yes, that's what I was referring to, the plastic thing that goes up to 800. They always measure the peak flow when I go to doctor visits. I know it's not scientifically as perfect as the measured PFTs are, but I thought it was a tell-tail for something.

 

[miesl]

Jeremy can blow a spec-friggin-tacular peak flow, and have his important numbers drop. The U of MN clinic looks at the FEV1 and FVC as diagnostic criteria.

 

[princessjdc]

I have one of them but dont use it, cause it will only bring me down if I cant get a high reading. I have a scale and I dont even like to get on it anymore cause if I see I dropped in weight then it would worry me, and when I worry I cant eat. Wierd huh?

 

[anonymous]

The peak flow is mostly just used for asthmatics, cuz it measures if your airways are constricted.
My CF center used to check cystics 15 or 20 years ago w/ the separate peak flow meter...
buts its not as indicative of changes to the CF airways, as it would be to constriction that an asthmatic would have.
It doesn't measure a "volume of air"...it measures just a "flow"--the millisecond where in your FVC maneuver you hit the fastest/quickest point of "flow"
So unless you have an asthmatic component to your CF, I'm not sure your doc would rely on it much (at least at our CF center)
Like someone above said, for CF they mostly look at the FEV1 and FVC

By the way, the "peak flow" IS measured by normal PFTs...some reports just don't list it...
On the PFT it is usually called the "FEFmax" (forced expiratory flow maximum)
Look on your last PFTs, if it lists FEFmax it is the same as peak flow
FEFmax is in Liters/second though...so you have to multiply it by 60 to get the peak flow, which is measured as liters/min
james
30 w/cf
RT

 

[littledebbie]

dang James, Good to know you. You're a wealth of super information, I didn't know we had an RT in the group, SWEEEET! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

 

[Diane]

I have one of those peak flows. I love that thing ! I can tell when somethings going on when i cant get my normal numbers. I like to do it 3 or 4 times in a row right after using my flutter and it helps me cough some crap out.