Northern Michigan's News LeaderHealthy Living: Attacking Asthma

Healthy Living: Attacking Asthma

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Coughing... wheezing... shortness of breath. 24 million Americans experience these symptoms when asthma attacks. The chronic respiratory disease is obvious in some, but other patients suffer a long time, while doctors struggle to figure out their problem. Now, a new test is helping undiagnosed asthmatics breathe a lot easier. Robyn Haines has your Healthy Living.

 

Alfred Solis started feeling faint while working around the house. After a battery of tests, everything came back negative. Then, he took a deep breath into a device called an exhaled nitric oxide test. Unlike a spirometer, which tests the amount of air coming out of your lungs and how fast it comes out, this machine measures the nitric oxide in your breath. The chemical is naturally produced in our bodies. Cleveland Clinic pulmonary doctor Sumita Kharti says N.O. levels can go up as lung inflammation increases.

 

She says the N.O. test helps her diagnose tough asthma cases the spirometer can't detect. The device gives results in 90 seconds. Below 50 parts per billion is the normal range... Above 50, asthma's likely. Alfredo got a 129. After asthma is diagnosed a patient can take the test again to check their N.O. levels. Then doctors can adjust their medication as needed.

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