Spirometry is the most common type of test for examining lung function. It measures the volume and speed of air breathed in and out by the lungs. The spirometer is an essential tool in assessing conditions like asthma, cystic fibrosis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) and pulmonary fibrosis. A spirogram can differentiate between two types of abnormal breathing patterns, restrictive and obstructive.
A person with a restrictive lung disorder (RLD) has difficulty expanding the lungs when drawing in breath. This causes a decrease in lung volume and forces the lungs to work harder. Both oxygenation and ventilation are negatively affected. Pulmonary fibrosis, or scarring of the lungs, falls under the umbrella of RLD. Here, the normal tissue of the lung is dotted with lesions of scar tissue, creating a honeycomb-like appearance. Pulmonary fibrosis is badly understood, normally gets worse with time and is frequently fatal. Fortunately, it is a rare condition.
Other diseases that fall under the definition of RLD include scoliosis, neuromuscular conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), muscular dystrophy (MD), obesity and sarcoidosis. The common symptom that alerts people to the need to see a doctor is always shortness of breath. Sarcoidosis is an autoimmune condition in which the lungs become peppered with inflamed tissue referred to as granulomas. These mostly involve the lungs or the skin. Individuals may develop symptoms spontaneously and recover after a few months, maybe years. Other people never notice the condition and learn about it only after investigations for another condition.
Obstructive lung disease (OLD) is characterized by inflamed and obstructed airways. OLD obstructs airflow, leading to difficulty exhaling and frequent trips to the hospital. Bronchitis, asthma and COPD are examples of obstructive lung diseases. A common feature of OLD is loss of the ability to exhale 70 percent of breath within one second.
Asthma is caused by inflammation of the airways. One of the most common respiratory problems, it normally presents with wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. Other, less frequent, symptoms, are fatigue, rapid breathing and sighing. Asthma can be life-threatening.
The most serious symptom of CF is impaired breathing. Cystic fibrosis affects the lungs, pancreas, liver and intestine. Twenty-first century improvements in treatment and diagnosis have resulted in a much better prognosis than 50 or 60 years ago. In 1959, the median age of survival was only six months. As of 2008 in the United States, this had risen to 37.5 years; in Canada, it improved from 24 years in 1982 to 47.7 years in 2007. In Russia, the cost of medical treatment is often prohibitive and lung transplants do not take place. Here, the median age of survival is only 25 years.
The term COPD covers conditions like emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In emphysema, the delicate tissues lining the lungs become irreversibly damaged, most commonly from exposure to cigarette smoke. This limits the person's ability to exhale. While there is no cure for emphysema, smoking cessation will reduce disease progression.
Spirometry is an important diagnostic tool in respiratory medicine. Distinguishing between obstructive and restrictive conditions, it enables doctors to inform interventions and determine prognoses.
A person with a restrictive lung disorder (RLD) has difficulty expanding the lungs when drawing in breath. This causes a decrease in lung volume and forces the lungs to work harder. Both oxygenation and ventilation are negatively affected. Pulmonary fibrosis, or scarring of the lungs, falls under the umbrella of RLD. Here, the normal tissue of the lung is dotted with lesions of scar tissue, creating a honeycomb-like appearance. Pulmonary fibrosis is badly understood, normally gets worse with time and is frequently fatal. Fortunately, it is a rare condition.
Other diseases that fall under the definition of RLD include scoliosis, neuromuscular conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), muscular dystrophy (MD), obesity and sarcoidosis. The common symptom that alerts people to the need to see a doctor is always shortness of breath. Sarcoidosis is an autoimmune condition in which the lungs become peppered with inflamed tissue referred to as granulomas. These mostly involve the lungs or the skin. Individuals may develop symptoms spontaneously and recover after a few months, maybe years. Other people never notice the condition and learn about it only after investigations for another condition.
Obstructive lung disease (OLD) is characterized by inflamed and obstructed airways. OLD obstructs airflow, leading to difficulty exhaling and frequent trips to the hospital. Bronchitis, asthma and COPD are examples of obstructive lung diseases. A common feature of OLD is loss of the ability to exhale 70 percent of breath within one second.
Asthma is caused by inflammation of the airways. One of the most common respiratory problems, it normally presents with wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. Other, less frequent, symptoms, are fatigue, rapid breathing and sighing. Asthma can be life-threatening.
The most serious symptom of CF is impaired breathing. Cystic fibrosis affects the lungs, pancreas, liver and intestine. Twenty-first century improvements in treatment and diagnosis have resulted in a much better prognosis than 50 or 60 years ago. In 1959, the median age of survival was only six months. As of 2008 in the United States, this had risen to 37.5 years; in Canada, it improved from 24 years in 1982 to 47.7 years in 2007. In Russia, the cost of medical treatment is often prohibitive and lung transplants do not take place. Here, the median age of survival is only 25 years.
The term COPD covers conditions like emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In emphysema, the delicate tissues lining the lungs become irreversibly damaged, most commonly from exposure to cigarette smoke. This limits the person's ability to exhale. While there is no cure for emphysema, smoking cessation will reduce disease progression.
Spirometry is an important diagnostic tool in respiratory medicine. Distinguishing between obstructive and restrictive conditions, it enables doctors to inform interventions and determine prognoses.
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