|
|
Article: Why do we measure lung function in patients with known obstructive lung diseases?(PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTING)
- Article from:
- FOCUS: Journal for Respiratory Care & Sleep Medicine
- Article date:
- June 22, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Focus Publications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
The National Asthma Education Project recommendations for treating asthma are based on an assessment of asthma severity. Their scale begins with mild, moves to intermittent and then continues through to severe and persistent. The categories are defined by symptoms, limitations on physical activity, exacerbations and spirometry measurements.
The requirements to establish a diagnosis are: (1) at least episodic symptoms of air flow obstruction; (2) objective evidence of airflow obstruction with at least partial reversibility; (3) alternative diagnoses are excluded. The primary asthma symptoms are wheezing, cough, shortness of breath and chest tightness but there is ...