Asthma and Lung Function Test
Asthma is when the person's airways get narrowed while producing extra mucus, making it difficult to breathe. Most people confuse asthma with wheezing, but wheezing is just a symptom of asthma. Even for people having severe asthma, lung transplantation is rarely recommended.
Causes
In most cases, the cause of asthma is because of allergies, but for some, it can be hereditary. Usually, asthma starts at an early age, but research has proven that asthma can start even in older people.
Diagnosis
A lung function test is used to diagnose asthma in a patient. This involves finding the extent of the infection, the infection's frequency, and the reaction to the medications.
Symptoms
- Shortness of breath
- Frequent coughing
- Difficulty in breathing
- Chest pain
- Night cough
- Wheezing
- Common cold
Effects of having asthma
- The occurrence of the symptoms can affect the daily activities of the patient.
- Asthma could get severe with the weather changes or exposure to polluted air, and the patient might need to be admitted to the hospital.
- Long-term asthma will reduce the function of the lungs with time.
Management
Using the right inhaler at the right time and the proper dosage is important. But most importantly, regular checkups should be done to check the lungs' capacity, which will help the doctor determine whether to increase or decrease the medications.
Also Read: What Happens Before a Lung Transplantation?
Most people dismiss asthma as minor discomfort, but proper medications along with regular checkups are important to keep it under control.
Lung transplantation in Chennai | Lung transplantation in India
- Dec 27, 2021