IMPORTANCE OF PEAK FLOW

Importance of Peak flow

IMPORTANCE OF PEAKFLOW

Introduction

Asthma is the most common obstructive pulmonary disease, affecting nearly all age groups. The effective control of Asthma is possible for reason that it is clinically and accurately diagnosed which can lead to appropriate use of medications that can improve systemic manifestations and pulmonary exacerbations. According to British Lung Foundation, 5 Million people in UK have Asthma mostly with long-term medical conditions and 90 percent have symptoms which are preventable.

Discussion

Asthma is caused by the inflammation of the respiratory pathways from Pulmonary Pleura to Bronchi down to smallest Alveoli; all get affected in this disease. The airways are sensitive and inflamed than normal in asthmatic people. The swell tissues produce extra mucus thus causing increased obstruction and interfere with normal breathing (Asthma, 2012).

Case Study

44yrs old male, presented in accident and emergency with a history of 2 days shortness of breath, cough for 3 days productive with greenish sputum.

Past medical history of asthma since childhood, COPD in 2012 , intensive care admission x 2 for asthma in 2007 and 2008.

Medication: Seretide inhaler twice daily, Salbutamol inhaler PRN, salbutamol 5mg nebulizer as needed.

Allergic to all animals.

Observations on arrival; rr-22c/m, bp-146/91, oxygen saturation 99 percent on room air, hr-85b/m. 

Peak flow pre nebulizer -240.

Peak flow post nebulizer 340,350.

Normal peak flow for pt is 320, his GP recorded his normal peak flow as 600.

He was advised to monitor his peak flow to get his correct reading and to see his GP and respiratory nurse.

The principles of Asthma management such as in the above case will be assessed and followed on the basis of guidelines designated by NICE (National Institute for Care and Excellence) and BTS (British Thoracic Society). The long-term ongoing care is necessary for controlling signs and symptoms of Asthma in acute as well as chronic states (Wensley DC, Silverman M., 2001). The above mentioned case illustrates that the patient has a chronic symptoms for Asthma which needs to be reduced and by controlling persistent airway inflammation caused by lifelong causation of the disease. Prevention of acute episodes of attack can be acquired by avoiding allergy inducing agents, exercise and exertion (NICE, 2013). Daily use of anti-inflammatory medicines is recommended for these patients. In order to decrease the potential risk of developing critical respiratory restriction, treatment immediately starts which includes; Peak flow rate 20 percent below predicted normal value, as in the above case, productive cough with coloured sputum, and shortness of breath and chest tightness (SS, 2006).

Measurements of respiratory sufficiency are the most important aspects for making diagnosis and treatment plan for the control of Asthma. They provide accurate methods to assess and evaluate lung functions. FEV-1 (Force Expiratory Volume/second) is the amount of air expelled from the lungs forcefully in the first second (Stores G, E. A., 1998). It is the most useful tool to measure lung efficacy as it indicates both large and small airway obstructions. FVC (Force Vital Capacity) is the amount of air a person can expire as fast as he ...