Asthma Supplies

Asthma is a chronic condition of the lungs, characterized by finding it hard to breathe. People who suffer from asthma have hyper-responsive airways, which are become irritated during an asthma attack. This causes them to narrow and the flow of air is obstructed.

One of the most common asthma supplies is a peak flow meter, which will show how well you're breathing.

A peak flow meter can be used at home to check your lung function. Basically, you take a deep breath and blow into a tube. The machine measures how fast you can blow out, giving you the peak flow measurement.

Over a period of a few weeks, you check your peak flow daily. The highest reading over that time period is your personal best peak flow. You can use this as a guideline when measuring in the future, to indicate whether your asthma is restricting your airflow or not.

Your doctor will give you specific instructions for using a peak flow meter, as well as how to take your medication according to the results.

This device can also help to warn you of an asthma attack before you exhibit any symptoms. If your peak flow measurements are getting worse, you will be able to take the appropriate action to hopefully avoid a more severe attack.

The following chart will give you a rough estimate of what your peak flow ought to be:

Asthma peak flow chart

To find the correct peak flow, find your age along the bottom axis and then go up until you find the red curve that matches your height. Where these two intersect, the corresponding number on the left axis is the peak flow.

For example, in the following diagram a 58 year old woman who stands 61 inches tall has a peak flow of roughly 430 liters per minute.

Asthma peak flow chart example

These charts start at approximately age 20, but peak flow meters can be used in cases of asthma and childhood as well.