What Should I Do If I Think I Have Asthma
If you think that you have asthma, the best thing you can do is see your healthcare provider as soon as possible for proper testing and diagnosis. Many people normalize their symptoms, without ever realizing that a symptom-free life could be possible. Its crucial to never ignore or downplay your asthma symptoms, you never know when something could trigger a potentially fatal asthma attack.
The sooner that you get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan, the sooner you can take control of your asthma and live life to the fullest.
Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide
Fractional exhaled nitric oxide testing detects and measures a gas produced by cells in the airways when they are inflamed as a result of allergic or eosinophilic asthma. The presence of this gas, nitric oxide, can help diagnose asthma or determine how well anti-inflammatory medicationsâtypically inhaled corticosteroids âare controlling asthma.
The test is simple and noninvasive: It involves exhaling slowing and steadily into a handheld instrument. The device measures the amount of nitric oxide in the breath in parts per billion . FeNO takes place in a doctor’s office and the results of the test are available immediately.
FeNo testing was one focus of a National Institutes of Health panel of experts who issued updated guidelines for asthma management in December 2020. According to their recommendations, FeNO testing should not be used alone to diagnose or monitor asthma, but can be helpful as an add-on test when a person’s symptoms and spirometry and other tests aren’t conclusive.
The guidelines apply only to adults and children 5 and over. The panel advised against FeNO testing for younger children as a way to assess wheezing, as studies show it to be an unreliable way to predict if they ultimately will develop asthma.
Complete Pulmonary Function Testing
Your asthma care provider may want to determine your lung volumes and diffusing capacity. This is often done if your asthma diagnosis is unclear. The test requires you to sit inside a special box that helps determine how much air you breathe in and out.
- Lung Volumes: Your asthma care provider may order body plethysmography test to determine your lung volumes. Asthma may cause certain changes in lung volumes that will assist your asthma care provider in diagnosing or treating your asthma.
- Diffusion Capacity: Diffusion capacity measures how well oxygen flows from the lungs into your blood. Poor diffusion indicates damage to the lung where the oxygen and blood meet in the lungs. Diffusion capacity is usually normal in asthmatics.
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The Aftermath Of A Car Accident
Some people are lucky and survive motor vehicle collusions with few to no injuries. However, it is best to prepare for the worst just in case it comes to pass. The most common injuries stemming from car accidents are those to the head and neck. When a car, motorcycle, or truck comes to an abrupt stop, drivers and passengers can easily strike their heads against steering wheels, dashboards, projectiles, and even windshields. Traumatic brain injuries often result, and while some may be temporary concussions, those who survive car accidents can still suffer lasting cognitive damage. Whiplash, the ligament and muscle damage that occurs in the neck when the head is jerked back and forth, is also common.
Other injuries that follow car accidents include trauma to the spinal cord, which can lead to permanent nerve damage; herniated disks, caused by displaced cartilage in the spinal column; tears in the anterior cruciate ligament ; broken bones; and even collapsed lungs. All these injuries can be a burden to overcome, and it is important to document every last detail. This way, your Houston car accident attorney will be better able to help you receive necessary health insurance coverage.
How Is A Spirometry Test Performed
Your healthcare provider will explain your results.
Some people who have asthma will have a normal spirometry test. If this is the case, you may be asked to take another test to confirm the diagnosis of asthma, like a methacholine challenge or exercise test.
*Infants and small children under 5-6 years old usually cannot do the spirometry test. Young childrens asthma is typically diagnosed based on signs and symptoms , family history, history of allergies, and their response to asthma medications.
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Some People Experience Unusual Asthma Attack Symptoms
Response from Lorene Alba, AE-C
Itâs important to pay attention to your body for these often-subtle warning signs. My chin itches before I have an asthma episode, usually a day or two before. Other warning signs can be restless sleep, feeling tired or moody, having a stuffy nose, or clearing your throat. A drop in your peak flow meter reading is also a warning sign; peak flow meters often show your asthma worsening before you begin to feel symptoms.
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Gaps In Knowledge And Future Directions
Other testing approaches may be part of future algorithms. Measurement of inflammatory markers such as sputum eosinophils or exhaled nitric oxide is already being used in some settings to evaluate asthma control and formulate management decisions. However, although such tests show clinical promise, they have not yet been rigorously investigated for use in the diagnosis of asthma and are currently limited to tertiary care centres and research facilities.
A 10% or more fall in FEV1 from baseline is considered an abnormal response following hyperventilation with dry air, as is a fall of 15% from baseline following challenge with hypertonic aerosols. For adenosine monophosphate, a 20% or greater fall in FEV1 at a concentration of less than 400 mg/mL is considered abnormal. Furthermore, a positive response to bronchial provocation by eucapnic voluntary hyperventilation is considered acceptable confirmation of exercise-induced asthma; it is in fact the current standard of the International Olympic Committee, although it is not often used in other settings.
In the future, genetic testing may allow individually targeted diagnostics and therapeutic decisions.,
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What Causes Adults To Develop Asthma
At least 30% of adult asthma cases are triggered by allergies. People who are allergic to cats may have an increased risk for developing adult onset asthma. Exposure to allergens or irritants such as cigarette smoke, chemicals, mold, dust, or other substances commonly found in the persons environment might trigger the first asthma symptoms in an adult.
Prolonged exposure to certain workplace materials may set off asthma symptoms in adults.
Hormonal fluctuations in women may play a role in adult onset asthma. Some women first develop asthma symptoms during or after a pregnancy. Women going through menopause can develop asthma symptoms for the first time.
Different illnesses, viruses, or infections can be a factor in adult onset asthma. A bad cold or a bout with the flu is often a factor in adult onset asthma.
Smoking does not cause adult onset asthma; however, if you smoke or if you are exposed to cigarette smoke , it may provoke asthma symptoms.
Personal Injury Attorney Houston Tx
Injuries and accidents are events that people cannot plan or prepare for. Nobody plans to get in a head-on collision on their way to work, and nobody plans to break their hip falling on a slippery substance at the grocery store. Life doesnt prepare you for accidents and injuries. They happen suddenly and without warning, and can occur at any given moment, at any given place. These events can be life-altering from a heath standpoint, and a financial one as well. One sudden accident can result in a long hospital stay and may even prevent a person from ever returning to work again.
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What About A Survival Action Lawsuit
Wrongful death allows the parents, child or spouse to sue for the harm;they;have suffered as a result of the death of their loved one. In a survival action, the representative of the deceased sues for the harm the;;suffered before he or she died. For example, in a survival action, a family member might sue on the deceaseds behalf for the pain and suffering they suffered the final few hours before they passed away.
Car Accident Lawyer Houston Tx
If you have been in a car accident, you will know the fear that follows a collision. There is so much to worry about after a crash and you may be wondering how you are going to manage it all. The injuries you sustain from this car accident can potentially follow you around lifelong and you want to make sure you are compensated for all these damages.
Minor fender benders and head-on collisions alike can have major consequences, as even the smallest car accident can injure a driver, a passenger, a pedestrian, or all three. If you were injured in an auto accident in the Harris County area, be sure to reach out to a Houston car accident lawyer as soon as possible to receive the legal representation you need.
Here at Longoria Law, we know how to protect you from the insurance companies and get you the compensation that is fair and just in accordance to the severity of your injuries. We provide strong and dedicated legal representation to the people of Houston. We wont settle for low settlement offers from the insurance companies and neither should you.
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Seeking Representation From A Personal Injury Attorney In Houston Tx
Because of the uniquely high rate of construction accident-related injuries in the Houston metropolitan area, local personal injury law firms are well-versed in representing clients whose injuries resulted from negligence. Construction workers may be hesitant at first to reach out to personal injury attorneys because of matters like cost, other priorities, or fear over losing their jobs. Pedestrians who were injured on construction sites can blame themselves for their injuries, brushing off major ailments as resulting from their own doing, and may believe that a personal injury attorney in Houston, TX would never want to hear their case. The truth is that there is no harm in seeking help, and attorneys with substantial backgrounds in personal injury law will work hard to advocate for their clients.
When you have recovered from the worst of your ailments, you should make it a priority to seek the advice of a personal injury attorney in Houston, TX. Make sure that you show up to the consultation with as many documents as you can, as your personal injury attorney in Houston, TX will be able to identify what will and what will not help your case. Any detail may prove helpful; a photo of the construction site can show an unsafe condition, and a note from a doctor will demonstrate the full extent of your injuries. Remember that mental trauma is just as important as physical conditions are, and a diagnosis from a psychologist can underscore the severity of the accidents effects.
How Is Asthma Diagnosed In Children
Just as for adults, the diagnosis of asthma in children is based on the pattern of symptoms, risk factors, and physical examination.1,4 The medication trial typically lasts two to three months. Your childs provider will want to see if your childs symptoms get better with medication and get worse when the medications stop.
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What Kind Of Damages Are Available In A Wrongful Death Lawsuit
In a Texas wrongful death case, there are two categories of monetary damages available for recovery. The first type is punitive damages. These are designed to punish those responsible for the death. These are only available when the person responsible acted willfully or the death was the result of his or her gross negligence.
The second is compensatory damages. As its name implies, these compensate the surviving victims in a wrongful death action. Common types of compensatory damages include:
- Loss of future earnings.
- Funeral expenses and medical bills.
- Loss of companionship.
- Emotional pain and suffering .
- Loss of inheritance.
- Loss of services .
Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer In Houston Tx
Our Houston personal injury attorneys are here to help and guide you through the insurance claims process and fight the insurance companies. You may not even realize the damages that you are incurring unless you are familiar with the personal injury claim process and have had a free consultation with our top rated Houston personal injury attorney.
Every case is different and every case is important to our personal injury law firm from 18 wheeler personal injury cases to an everyday car accident. A case review is provided for every client who may need help. You or your loved one should contact us today for a no-obligation, no-pressure consultation.
Read more below to learn about how a top rated personal injury lawyer can help you with your car accident, truck accident, slip and fall, motorcycle, bicycle, construction, or dog bite claim as well as to get a better understanding of some common personal injuries that are heard in the Texas civil courts.
Contact us as soon as possible to schedule your consultation, so that we can speak directly about your situation, provide you with insight and clarity about your rights and how to move forward, and get an idea of how we will be able to work together.;
You do not have to be in the Houston area for us to help you. We have been serving Houston, Texas since 2002 but have personal injury attorneys in Austin, TX and Victoria, TX. Schedule a consultation today with our top-rated personal injury lawyer.
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Video: What Happens After Being Diagnosed With Asthma
Transcript of ‘What happens after being diagnosed with asthma?’
0:00 It can be really scary to be told you have asthma and it’s natural to worry about how it might affect your life. The
0:08 good news is that there’s lots of support out there to help you manage the condition and to help you to stay well.
0:15 You may wonder if your asthma can be cured. Well, even though we don’t have a cure for asthma at the moment, there’s so much we can do with the right medicines,
0:25 the right treatments, the right advice and support to help you stay well, so that the asthma won’t affect your life,
0:31 whether it be work or your play. You might find that when you’re just diagnosed with asthma it takes a little
0:38 bit of time to get your medicines just right so that you are living without symptoms every day. Be patient, hang on in there.
0:47 The most important thing is to develop a really good relationship with your doctor or nurse. With them you can draw up an asthma action plan, which you can
0:56 download from our website. That’ll really help you to manage your asthma well, and we know that you’re four times less likely to need to go to hospital if
1:04 you’ve got one of these. So, if you have just been diagnosed with asthma, try and stay positive. There’s so much you can do to stay well. You can visit our website,
1:14 or phone one of our friendly asthma nurse specialists, or even join a forum. Remember that we’re here to help.
What Are Common Ways To Diagnose Asthma
Personal and medical history.;Your doctor will ask you questions to understand your symptoms and their causes. Bring notes to help jog your memory. Be ready to answer questions about your family history, the medicines you take and your lifestyle. This includes any current physical problems. Shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and tightness in your chest may show asthma. This also includes all previous medical conditions. A history of allergies or eczema increases your chance of asthma. A family history of asthma, allergies or eczema increases your chance of having asthma, too. Tell your doctor about any home or work exposure to environmental factors that can worsen asthma. For example, these might include pet dander, pollen, dust mites and tobacco smoke. The doctor may also ask if you get chest symptoms when you get a head cold.
Physical exam.;If your doctor thinks you have asthma, they will do a physical exam. They will look at;your ears, eyes, nose, throat, skin, chest and lungs. This exam may include a lung function test to detect how well you exhale air from your lungs. You may also need an X-ray of your lungs or sinuses.;A physical exam then allows your doctor to review your health.
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Do I Need To Wear A Helmet To Recover Damages In A Motorcycle Accident
Not necessarily. Under Texas law, all riders who are less than 21 years of age must wear a helmet. Those who are 21 years of age and older may ride without a helmet, but only if they have either completed a motorcycle safety course or can provide proof of health insurance that will cover injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.
That being said, whether or not you are wearing a helmet only becomes a factor if you suffer injuries that could have been avoided or reduced if you wore a helmet. If you were legally required to wear a helmet, but did not, then suffer head injuries, it will be very difficult to recover for your head injuries. But you should still be able to recover for other injuries and damages that werent related to whether or not you wore a helmet.
If you were not legally required to wear a helmet, chose not to wear one, then suffered head injuries in a motorcycle accident, you can still recover for your head injuries, but youll need to show that you would have still suffered head injuries even if you had worn your helmet. But assuming you can do this, any recovery you obtain for your head injuries is still likely to be lower than if you had been wearing a helmet.