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.
Restrictive lung disease (RLD) impedes the expansion of the lungs on inspiration. This results in a decreased lung volume, forcing the individual to work harder to draw breath. Both ventilation and oxygenation are impaired. Pulmonary fibrosis, or scarring of the lung is one condition underlying RLD. The normal lung parenchyma becomes interspersed with scar tissue, resulting in a honeycomb appearance. Thankfully rare, pulmonary fibrosis is poorly understood, worsens over time and is often fatal.
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, caused by inflammation of the airways, is a common respiratory condition most often characterized by coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Less common symptoms include sighing, fatigue and rapid breathing. Asthma is occasionally life-threatening.
Cystic fibrosis affects the lungs, liver, intestine and pancreas. Shortness of breath is the most serious symptom of cystic fibrosis. Improvements in diagnosis and treatment have extended the life span for people with CF. In 1959, the median survival age was 6 months. In the United States, it had increased to 37.5 years by 2008. In Canada, the median age at survival grew from 24 to 47.7 between 1982 and 2007. Patients are not so lucky in Russia, where lung transplants are not available and basic medical treatment is expensive. 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.
Spirometers are essential devices for diagnosing both restrictive and obstructive lung conditions. Obstructive lung diseases include COPD, bronchitis and asthma. Restrictive lung disorders refer to sarcoidosis, muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, pulmonary fibrosis and obesity hyperventilation syndrome.
Restrictive lung disease (RLD) impedes the expansion of the lungs on inspiration. This results in a decreased lung volume, forcing the individual to work harder to draw breath. Both ventilation and oxygenation are impaired. Pulmonary fibrosis, or scarring of the lung is one condition underlying RLD. The normal lung parenchyma becomes interspersed with scar tissue, resulting in a honeycomb appearance. Thankfully rare, pulmonary fibrosis is poorly understood, worsens over time and is often fatal.
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, caused by inflammation of the airways, is a common respiratory condition most often characterized by coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Less common symptoms include sighing, fatigue and rapid breathing. Asthma is occasionally life-threatening.
Cystic fibrosis affects the lungs, liver, intestine and pancreas. Shortness of breath is the most serious symptom of cystic fibrosis. Improvements in diagnosis and treatment have extended the life span for people with CF. In 1959, the median survival age was 6 months. In the United States, it had increased to 37.5 years by 2008. In Canada, the median age at survival grew from 24 to 47.7 between 1982 and 2007. Patients are not so lucky in Russia, where lung transplants are not available and basic medical treatment is expensive. 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.
Spirometers are essential devices for diagnosing both restrictive and obstructive lung conditions. Obstructive lung diseases include COPD, bronchitis and asthma. Restrictive lung disorders refer to sarcoidosis, muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, pulmonary fibrosis and obesity hyperventilation syndrome.
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