Question 7: Do Your Symptoms Feel Worse After You Exercise
You answered yes.
You answered no.
- When we exercise, we all breathe more quickly and deeper than normal. In asthmatics, a reaction can be triggered when breathing in cold or dry air, leading to a narrowing of the airways.
- If youre exercising outside, you are additionally more susceptible to breathing in other irritants, such as pollen, exhaust fumes or dust.
Bdr Measurements And Cut
Three continuous BDR measurements were examined: 1) absolute volume change in FEV1 in mL ; 2) ÎFEV1 as a percentage of the initial FEV1 , and ÎFEV1 as a percentage of the predicted FEV1 .
Two cut-offs recommended by ATS/ERS were examined: 1) ÎFEV1â¥12% from baseline and â¥200mL; and 2) ÎFEV1â¥15% from baseline and â¥400mL . These cut-offs were compared to cut-offs based on the reference sample upper limits of normal of the three continuous BDR measurements.
Comparison Of Bdr Measurements
Whereas all continuous BDR measurements performed similarly for current asthma, the areas under the ROC curve for ACO was highest when BDR was expressed as ÎFEV1initial as compared to ÎFEV1 or ÎFEV1pred . The corresponding AUC was 59% for current asthma and 87% for ACO. Findings were similar when ROC curves were developed for the symptomatic sample .
Don’t Miss: Is Mushroom Good For Asthma
If You Have Asthma Your Diagnosis Will Include Severity Of Your Condition
If you have asthma, your follow-up treatment and long-term prognosis can vary significantly depending on the severity of your condition, its cause, your overall health, and many other variables.
When it comes to the severity of asthma, doctors usually break asthma down into four categories:
- Mild Intermittent Your asthma symptoms show up less than twice a week, and you wake up on fewer than two nights a month because of your symptoms.
- Mild Persistent You have symptoms two or more days each week, and you wake up three to four nights a month.
- Moderate Persistent You have symptoms every day, and you wake up one or more nights a week.
- Severe Persistent You have symptoms during the day, every day, and you wake up every night due to asthma.
Depending on the severity of your asthma, treatments could range from inhalers to oral or intravenous corticosteroid medication or even surgery.
Its important to note that asthma can either be severe because symptoms are persistent all the time or because symptoms are difficult to control either the individual has problems adhering to treatment and symptoms go mismanaged or because symptoms are so severe that even with medication and other treatments, symptoms are difficult to control.
Response From John Bottrell Rrt
This is a great question. I think the answer to this question will vary based on who answers it. I was diagnosed when I was two-years old. And this was way back in 1972. I did ask my mom about this a few years ago, and she had no memory of how I was diagnosed, just that I was. So, at that time, I doubt there were any tests done. And I’m speculating here. But, I think I can speculate with some degree of accuracy.
Interestingly, many experts say you cannot diagnose asthma prior to the age of 5 because small children cannot do the required testing. But, that’s not necessarily true. Doctors often use experience guided by common sense to diagnose asthma even in small children without doing any specific tests. This is essential, because it allows them to effectively treat small asthmatics. Doctors can diagnose asthma if you present with obvious asthma symptoms. Mom said I always seemed to have a cold, and I was always breathing heavy. I probably also had wheezes and signs and symptoms of asthma that made it easy for my doctors to recognize it and diagnose asthma.
You can diagnose it based on a positive response to asthma medicines. Back then I responded well to theophylline and epinephrine. You can also diagnose based on family history. I don’t think this was the case with me, although I did have a great uncle who had severe asthma when he was a small child. So, for me, in my case, there was no testing done, at least that I’m aware of.
Don’t Miss: Can An Asthma Attack Kill You
Managing And Controlling Your Asthma
Asthma is defined as a chronic condition, which means that you need to continuously monitor and manage your asthma throughout your lifetime. While there is currently no cure for asthma, with proper treatmentand management you can effectively control your asthma and live symptom-free.
Asthma treatment is successful if you learn all you can about your asthma including: symptoms,triggers,medications and ongoing asthma management to achieve control. You and you alone know how you feel and how your asthma is affecting you and you need to be responsible for acting when your asthma is not in good control.
Many people with asthma believe that their asthma is controlled but in fact, surveys have shown that most people accept levels of asthma control that fall far short of the standards described in the Canadian Consensus Asthma Guidelines. In order to control your asthma it is very important that you actually understand what good asthma control means.
Signs Of Good Asthma Control
- You dont have any breathing difficulties, cough or wheeze most days
- You sleep through the night without awakening due to asthma symptoms like cough, wheeze, or chest tightness
- You can exercise without having any asthma symptoms
- You dont miss any work or school due to asthma
- You have a normal lung function test
- You do not need to use your reliever inhaler more than 3 times per week
Read Also: What To Do When Having An Asthma Attack
Question 8: Are Your Symptoms Worse When You Are At Work
You answered yes.
You answered no.
- Someone who works in an environment where they are exposed to dust, fumes, certain chemicals or animals, and finds their symptoms flare up at work, may have what is known as occupational asthma, which affects around one in ten people who first develop asthma in adulthood.
- Bakers, vets, nurses, hairdressers, engineers and woodworkers are just some of the jobs that can lead to occupational asthma.
What Are The Consequences
Asthma that is undiagnosed is also untreated, and this is likely to result in patients with ongoing symptoms. Patients may avoid exercise, may miss work and be less productive, and their quality of sleep and overall quality of life are likely to be adversely affected. These patients are likely to have unsuppressed airway inflammation and eosinophilic airway inflammation is associated with more asthma exacerbations , which may lead to the requirement for OCS and potentially hospitalisation.
It is possible that patients may also die of asthma prior to diagnosis, or on their first presentation of asthma. The UK national review of asthma deaths examined 195 deaths attributed to asthma between 2012 and 2013 . Importantly, 38% of these patients had four or fewer inhalers with a steroid component issued in the previous year, indicating that undertreatment was a probable important factor in their deaths. Almost half of the patients that died of asthma were being managed as mild or moderate asthma. While this does not directly deal with underdiagnosis, it is an important reminder that even in the developed world undertreatment of asthma remains a problem.
Also Check: Can You Die In Your Sleep From Asthma
What Is The Difference Between Asthma And Exercise
In exercise-induced bronchoconstriction , people experience airway constriction only when they exercise. In contrast, asthma is a chronic condition. An allergist can help you determine whether the symptoms you experience during physical activity are related to allergies , irritants in the air , EIB, or underlying asthma.
Using A Peak Flow Meter
Some healthcare providers like to recommend a peak flow meter to anyone with a new diagnosis of asthma. It can be especially helpful in children. A peak flow meter may help them recognize the signs and symptoms of their asthma getting worse.
What Is a Peak Flow Meter?
A peak flow meter is a portable, inexpensive, hand-held device used to measure how air flows from your lungs in one “fast blast.” In other words, the meter measures your ability to push air out of your lungs.
Who Should Use a Peak Flow Meter?
Patients age 5 years and older are usually able to use a peak flow meter to help manage their asthma. Not all healthcare providers recommend peak flow meters to help children and adults manage their asthma. Many healthcare providers believe a peak flow meter may be of most help for people with moderate and severe asthma. If your asthma is mild or you do not use daily medication, a peak flow meter may not be useful for your asthma management. A peak flow meter is a helpful tool for school health staff to monitor a child’s asthma during the school day.
Why Should I Measure My Flow Rate?
Peak flow meter measurements can help your healthcare provider make decisions about your treatment and adjust your medicines, and the measurements also can alert you when your asthma symptoms are worsening.
Recommended Reading: What To Do When You Have Asthma And No Inhaler
Respiratory Exam And Medical History
A doctor asks about your childs respiratory symptoms, such as breathlessness, and recent illnesses. You may also discuss whether your child has allergies or a family history of asthma or allergies and whether he or she has been exposed to pets, cigarette smoke, or other possible triggers.
Our doctors look for signs that your child is having difficulty breathing, such as retraction, or sinking in, of the area between the ribs. They also listen for unusual breathing sounds, such as wheezing, which can be difficult to distinguish from other breathing noises.
Response From Leon C Lebowitz Ba Rrt
There are any number of tests used to diagnose asthma. First and foremost, a physician who is educated and trained in the treatment of pulmonary disease should be contacted. Following a complete history and physical examination, the physician may order the following diagnostic tests: a chest x-ray, pulmonary function testing and even an arterial blood gas. These diagnostic tests are commonly used to help in the diagnosis of asthma. The initial chest radiograph or x-ray will provide the baseline imaging evaluation for a patient being evaluated for an asthma diagnosis. This image can help to evaluate and differentiate between asthma and other conditions which may mimic asthma. Serial x-rays will help determine changes to the lung over time and the extent of those changes.
Pulmonary function testing is the principal mainstay for a diagnosis. The results help the doctor evaluate the condition of the lung. PFT’s measure lung volumes, capacities, and flow rates to determine if asthma is present and the severity to which it is involved. It can also demonstrate how constricted the airways are and if they are responsive to medication . The airways can be ‘challenged’ to assess how sensitive they are. Finally, PFT’s can assess the changes to the lung over time if used on a systematic basis.
Allergy testing and history are used when asthma symptoms seem to persist over time, and may be related to triggers that an individual may be exposed to constantly .
Read Also: What Helps Breathing With Asthma
Detailed Information On Symptoms Medications And Treatment Of Asthma
The next step in your visit is the physical examination. The exam will focus on your skin, eyes, ears, nose, throat, and chest. The doctor will look at your skin for signs of eczema or hives. Inflammation in the ears or eyes may signify an underlying allergy. Dark circles under the eyes, called allergic shiners, and swelling in the nose are both telltale signs of allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, which is often associated with asthma. The chest exam is the most important part of the doctors physical examination. The doctor will rely on a stethoscope to detect wheezing and gauge the rate of air movement in and out of your chest. The doctor .may ask you to take a deep breath or briefly exercise to make it easier for her or him to detect wheezing. An astute asthma doctor can often diagnose asthma by just looking at a patients chest and observing what is called the barrel-chest deformity. When patients with chronic asthma constantly use their chest and rib muscles to move air in and out of their lungs, the chest wall is stretched to the limit, and it expands, giving the chest a barrel-like shape.
Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide Test
If after routine testing, including spirometry and bronchodilator responsiveness, an asthma diagnosis isn’t certain, a FeNO test may be performed, according to National Institutes of Health recommendations for asthma management. This test determines the presence of inflammation in the lungs and is performed using a portable device that measures the level of nitric oxide in parts per billion in exhaled air.
Also Check: What Causes A Wheeze In Asthma
Signs Of Poor Asthma Control
- You have frequent breathing difficulties and find yourself coughing or wheezing most days
- Your asthma impacts your sleep; if your asthma symptoms wake you up or keep you up at night your asthma isnt controlled
- You cant exercise or exert yourself physically without experiencing breathing difficulties
- You frequently miss work or school due to asthma
- You use your reliever medication more than 3 times per week
When Should You Have A Spirometry Test
Children older than age five, and adults of any age, who have asthma-like symptoms should have a;spirometry test. The healthcare provider should also do a physical exam and a full medical history. If the test shows that you have asthma, your doctor;should prescribe asthma medicine. Then you should be retested four to six weeks later. If your test results improve, your treatment is working. You may even be able to take less medicine. If your symptoms get worse, you should have another spirometry test. If your symptoms are controlled, you should have a test at least once every year or two.
This report is for you to use when talking with your healthcare provider. It is not a substitute for medical advice and treatment. Use of this report is at your own risk.
02/2014
Read Also: How To Calm Down Asthma Symptoms
What Are Pulmonary Function Tests
Pulmonary function tests include numerous procedures to diagnose lung problems. The two most common lung function tests used to diagnose asthma are spirometry, exhaled nitric oxide and challenge tests.
Spirometry This is a simple breathing test that measures how much and how fast you can blow air out of your lungs. It is often used to determine the amount of airway obstruction you have. Spirometry can be done before and after you inhale a short-acting medication called a bronchodilator, such as albuterol. The bronchodilator causes your airways to expand, allowing for air to pass through freely. This test might also be done at future doctor visits to monitor your progress and help your doctor determine if and how to adjust your treatment plan.
Exhaled nitric oxide Nitric oxide is a gas that is produced in the lungs and has been found to be an indicator of inflammation. Because asthma is an inflammatory process, this test has become helpful in the diagnosis and management of asthma. The test is performed by having you breathe into a small, handheld machine for about 10 seconds at a steady pace. It then calculates the amount of nitric oxide in the air you breathe out.
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.
Don’t Miss: Is Tea Good For Asthma
There Are Four Key Symptoms That You Should Monitor To Help You Keep Your Asthma Under Control:
- Daytime SymptomsHow often do you have asthma symptoms during the day, such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or shortness of breath?
- Nighttime SymptomsDo you wake up at night with asthma symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or shortness of breath?
- Quick-Relief or Rescue Inhaler UseHow often do you use your quick-relief or rescue inhaler to relieve asthma symptoms?
- Activity LevelDo you have difficulty performing normal activities, such as walking, climbing stairs, daily chores or playing with the kids?
How Do I Prepare For Pulmonary Function Tests
Ask your doctor if there is anything you need to do to prepare for spirometry.
Before taking a challenge test, be sure to tell your doctor if you have recently had a viral infection, like a cold, or any shots or immunizations, since these might affect the test’s results.
Other general preparations to follow before the test include:
- No smoking on the day of the test
- No coffee, tea, cola, or chocolate on the day of test
- Avoid exercise and cold air exposure on the day of test
- Medicines taken to treat asthma can affect the test results. Different medicines must be stopped at different intervals. You will be told how long before testing to discontinue any medicines you are taking.
Recommended Reading: Why Is My Asthma So Bad Right Now