Question: What Is My Personal Best Peak Flow?
Answer: While your normal normal or predicted peak flow rate is an important part of asthma treatment, handling an asthma attack, and part of your asthma care plan, your personal best peak flow is probably a more important measure of your lung function. As the name suggests, your personal best peak flow is your own personal normal over time. You can use your personal best peak flow over time to see how well your asthma is controlled. For example, you can compare readings over time to your personal best as a percentage of your personal best (>80% is good, 50% to 80% means caution, and < 50% indicates danger based on monitoring of your peak flows).
Determining Your Personal Best Peak Flow
Your personal best peak flow is the greatest peak flow achieved over a 2-week period when your asthma is well controlled. Because of variability in peak flows, you should use the same peak flow meter and preform peak flows twice daily (a.m. and p.m.). Record your peak flows so that you and your doctor can agree on your best peak flow. Remember that your personal best peak flow may change over time such as improvements or declines in your asthma. Additionally, personal best peak flows will change in kids as they grow.
Sources:
American Lung Association. Accessed June 9, 2009. What Is a Normal Peak Flow Rate?
