The Peak Flow
Peak flow is also called as peak expiratory flow. It is referred as peak expiratory flow rate by others too.
So what is really the definition of peak flow?
Peak flow is simply defined as one’s full speed of expiration. It is the highest rate of airflow from one’s lungs. The people who are distressed by asthma and other breathing problems have their peak flow below the normal range.
How to assess one’s peak flow?
Generally, one’s peak flow is measured through a handy device termed as peak flow meter. This is a tiny, transferrable thing that measures one’s rate of airflow from the lungs. A peak flow meter is used to monitor one’s capacity to breathe out air. Its reading is high every time one is breathing well. On the other hand, its reading is low when one has an obstruction to one’s airway. Many breathing disorders are being detected by a peak flow meter specially asthma.
Peak flow meter
In case of asthma, other medical tests are required to be able to confirm such condition. Relying mainly on the peak flow meter’s readings is not sufficient. It is undeniable that asthmatic people have regular peak flow test but this should be accompanied by proper monitoring and other medical measures.
Not anyone can correctly interpret the peak flow meter’s readings, thus, to have a trained user is an advantage. For healthy people, there is a variety of readings that may be measured by the peak flow meter, thus, these readings should be interpreted correctly. Furthermore, there are many factors that should be considered by the user like one’s age, height and lifestyle. The readings are being utilized by healthcare professionals to evaluate the condition of one’s lungs. Some professionals are making use of charts which display the ranges of expected values and these are helpful to them. Results are then recorded to peak flow chart. Those readings can be used by the doctor for an appropriate cure of the breathing problem of such patient.
History of peak flow meter
Peak flow meter is invented by Basil Wright. His name is used as the scale in recording peak flow values. His invention was being launched on 1950’s. It was a new device which measures one’s rate of airflow from the lungs. To make the peak flow meter more efficient, updates have been made through the years. The measurement scale has been updated not so long ago which paved way to more accurate readings. In 2004, the update identified as European scale was formally embraced by the United Kingdom. It is said that the predictive values shown on charts and tables which were used by healthcare professionals have been updated and converted for the new European system.
Diagnosis and monitoring of patients’ breathing problems have been made easy by the skillful interpretation of peak flow measurement.
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