Spirometry and airway assessment & Quick relief and regular control
Lesson 2 · 5 min
Based on MedlinePlus en español — Asthma. Original educational summary, read by a medical doctor and confirmed reliable, pending formal approval. Not medical advice.
Learning objectives
- Explain spirometry and airway assessment.
- Explain quick relief and regular control.
Spirometry and airway assessment
Assessment combines history, examination, and lung-function tests. Spirometry evaluates breathing performance; peak expiratory flow measures how quickly air can be expelled with maximum effort. Selected challenge tests compare lung function before and after exposure. Exhaled nitric oxide can provide information about inflammation. When allergy is suspected, skin or blood testing can help identify relevant allergens. These tests answer different questions within the assessment. A plan addresses personal triggers and medicines chosen with a professional.
Quick relief and regular control
A plan addresses personal triggers and medicines chosen with a professional. Quick-relief medicines act rapidly to relieve symptoms and open airways. Controller medicines are used regularly to reduce inflammation and prevent narrowing. Treatment may be adjusted until control improves. Severe attacks unresponsive to quick-relief treatment require emergency care. Avoiding tobacco smoke and other personal triggers supports the medicine plan rather than replacing needed treatment. Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways carrying air into and out of the lungs.
Key concepts
- Inflamed airways and personal triggers
- Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways carrying air into and out of the lungs.
- Wheezing, cough, and attacks
- Common symptoms include tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, cough, and wheezing during exhalation.
- Spirometry and airway assessment
- Assessment combines history, examination, and lung-function tests.
- Quick relief and regular control
- A plan addresses personal triggers and medicines chosen with a professional.