ASTHMA – DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT

Diagnosis

For adults and youngsters who have recently been diagnosed with Asthma[five years], PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS are routinely checked to know how well the lungs are operating. Poor results on the tests indicate that respiratory disease is not well controlled. These tests also tell how well the treatment plan is working

LUNG FUNCTION TESTS include:

o   Peak flow.

Your doctor might take a peak flow reading after you are available for a scheduled visit or emergency treatment throughout the treatment. This check measures however quickly you'll exhale. You’ll additionally use a peak flow meter to observe how well your respiratory organ can operate.

o   The results of this check are called peak breath flow (PEF). A peak flow check is finished by processing into a mouthpiece as quickly as you can with one breath (expiration).

o   Spirometry.

Throughout spirometry, you are taking deep breaths and forcefully exhale into a hose connected to a machine referred to as a SPIROMETER.

o   It measures

§  Amount of air one can breathe in and out.

§  How fast one can empty the air out of the lungs.

o   Nitric oxide activity.

o   This measures the amount of nitric oxide gas out of the body through exhalation as nitric oxide levels sometimes increase in patients with asthma. High gas readings indicate inflammation of the cartilaginous respiratory tubes.

o   Pulse oximetry.

o   This check measures the oxygen levels in your blood. It's measured through the tip of the finger

Treatment

If your doctor has diagnosed asthma, always follow his instructions and follow the action plan as asthma can not be cured but can be managed effectively by medications

It constitutes

o   Long-term asthma control medications to keep asthma under control

o   Inhaled corticosteroids

o   Leukotriene modifiers.

o   Combination inhalers

o   Theophylline

o   Quick-relief (rescue) medications

o   Short-acting beta-agonists.

o   Anticholinergic agents

o   Oral and intravenous corticosteroids.

A quick-relief inhaler can help ease the symptoms quckly in case of an asthma flare-up