Asthma Diagnosis - How?

Oldernotwiser

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

i'm living proof asthma is not reversable.

Saying that asthma is reversible doesn't mean that it's curable; it refers to the effect of a bronchodilator on the airways. That's why reversibility testing can be an important tool of diagnosis.

"Reversibility testing is done in some cases where the diagnosis of the lung condition is not clear. For this test, you will be asked to do spirometry as described above. You will then be given a medicine by inhaler or nebuliser which may open up the airways. The spirometry test is then repeated 30 minutes or so afterwards. The aim of this is to see if your airways open wider with medication or not. Generally, asthma has more of a reversible element to the airways obstruction, compared with COPD."

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Spirometry.htm

Blackpool_Saver

Sorry it didn't help you Atrix, I think with me it's so allergy related that it did help. BUT I still have bad days and live in fear of colds, am first in the drs for the flu jab and am a virtual recluse in the cold and flu season.

I can actually taste dust fizzing in my mouth, soon as I go in a drawer or through old papers I itch like mad

atrixblue.-MFR-.

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Saying that asthma is reversible doesn't mean that it's curable; it refers to the effect of a bronchodilator on the airways. That's why reversibility testing can be an important tool of diagnosis.

"Reversibility testing is done in some cases where the diagnosis of the lung condition is not clear. For this test, you will be asked to do spirometry as described above. You will then be given a medicine by inhaler or nebuliser which may open up the airways. The spirometry test is then repeated 30 minutes or so afterwards. The aim of this is to see if your airways open wider with medication or not. Generally, asthma has more of a reversible element to the airways obstruction, compared with COPD."

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Spirometry.htm

not really the point your looking for, but as you say its not cureable,

the above you posted relates to reversing the airway obstruction, i.e to test if medication is right for the patiant, i.e patient has a spirometer test before medication whilst patient is "normal" on air sats, then patiant is given another test 30mins with medication to see if airways have opened (reversing the airway obstruction hense a "reversable symptom") and sats increase or decrease ive had this test performed many times. so whilst the symtoms can be reversed the condition cannot be, hence WITH MEDICATION patiants should be SYMPTOM free. but this is not always the case, eventhough some people experience asthma some also have free flow airways but have a loud wheezy chest and sounds as if theyre wrattling a bag of spanners in their lungs all day long and night after propper med control.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

Sorry it didn't help you Atrix, I think with me it's so allergy related that it did help. BUT I still have bad days and live in fear of colds, am first in the drs for the flu jab and am a virtual recluse in the cold and flu season.

I can actually taste dust fizzing in my mouth, soon as I go in a drawer or through old papers I itch like mad

thats OK i'm used to it by now was diagnosed when i was 3 i'm 28 this month and by some mirrical i havent had a overnight stay with hospital this year touch wood. mainly because i avoid cold damp wets weather alltogether dust does get to me, also purfumes and diesel fumes set me off.

you have an allergy to dust and mites by the sounds, in the summer months i used to take zirtek a anti histamine (available from pharmacy or from your GP on script) but i took it that often i built an immunity to it so ive had to have a good long break from it and will re start taking it next summer. i would ask you gp for a full allergy test to determin what exactly you are allergic to. i know one asthmatic who is allergic to dust and his OH has to hoover the bed daily and has a dehumidifyer to limit the amount of dust in the air.

Oldernotwiser

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

not really the point your looking for, but as you say its not cureable,

the above you posted relates to reversing the airway obstruction, i.e to test if medication is right for the patiant, i.e patient has a spirometer test before medication whilst patient is "normal" on air sats, then patiant is given another test 30mins with medication to see if airways have opened (reversing the airway obstruction hense a "reversable symptom") and sats increase or decrease ive had this test performed many times. so whilst the symtoms can be reversed the condition cannot be, hence WITH MEDICATION patiants should be SYMPTOM free. but this is not always the case, eventhough some people experience asthma some also have free flow airways but have a loud wheezy chest and sounds as if theyre wrattling a bag of spanners in their lungs all day long and night after propper med control.

Just clarifying the meaning of the word "reversible" in this context, as there seems to be some confusion about it.

LadyMorticia

Surely it's more important to get a correct diagnosis then to put your life in danger just because you think it's a "cheap" diagnosis (which it most certainly isn't and I can see why people were insulted by that statement).

jap200

The proper treatment for asthma has saved my life and my son's. We both now have the expensive (but great) Symbicort inhalers which enable us to give the appearance of living normal healthy lives to an outsider, but still face the risk and fear of an unexpected attack.

Not being able to breathe is the most frightening thing to experience except perhaps witnessing it in your own child. Asthma is diagnosed and managed so much better now than when I was my son's age - thank goodness, but as many people have said here already, plenty of people still die from it.

Gingham_R

There's no question that symbicort changed my life. I read an interview with Bill Bailey saying the same thing.

I'm on the maximum dose most of the time and over the licensed dose around a quarter of the time - but it works and I've only needed oral steroids a couple of times since I went on it a couple of years ago.

Person_one

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Just clarifying the meaning of the word "reversible" in this context, as there seems to be some confusion about it.

Your wording was less than clear.

Asthma is a chronic condition, in itself it isn't reversible. The inflammation and symptoms associated with asthma can be reversed with bronchodilators so they aren't constant, but you can't 'cure' asthma.

I think we're on the same page now!

Gingernutty

Just for laughs - it's World COPD Day on Wednesday!