Asthma : Tests

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Allergy testing may be helpful in identifying allergens in patients with persistent asthma. Common allergens include pet dander, dust mites, cockroach allergens, molds, and pollens. Common respiratory irritants include tobacco smoke, pollution, an...
Source:ADAM
Date:October 30, 2006
Apart from listening to the patient's chest, the examiner should look for maximum chest expansion while taking in air. Hunched shoulders and contracting neck muscles are other signs of narrowed airways. Nasal polyps or increased amounts of nasal s...
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine
Medical diagnosis for asthma involves a complete physical checkup. One of the most important tests is the measurement of pulmonary (lung) function—the volume of air a patient can inhale (breathe in) and exhale (breathe out). Peak flow meters...
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders Part I
The first stage of asthma diagnosis is from a history of asthmatic symptoms. These symptoms include periods of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness that come on suddenly in response to specific stimulants or time periods. A ...
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders Part II
Early diagnosis is critical to proper asthma treatment and management. Asthma may be diagnosed by the child's primary pediatrician or an asthma specialist, such as an allergist. The diagnosis of asthma may be strongly suggested when the typical sy...
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health
Apart from listening to the patient's chest, the examiner should look for maximum chest expansion while taking in air. Hunched shoulders and contracting neck muscles are other signs of narrowed airways. Nasal polyps or increased amounts of nasal s...
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
Apart from listening to the patient's chest, the examiner should look for maximum chest expansion while taking in air. Hunched shoulders and contracting neck muscles are other signs of narrowed airways. Nasal polyps or increased amounts of nasal s...
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
Blood gases measure the pH (acidity), oxygen content, and carbon dioxide content of the blood. Usually, blood gases are used to analyze the arterial blood. In rarer cases, venous blood may be used.
Source:ADAM
Date:March 1, 2007
Blood gas analysis, also called arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis, is a procedure to measure the partial pressure of oxygen (O 2 ) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) gases and the pH (hydrogen ion concentration) in arterial blood. Purpose Blood gas analysis is used to diagnose and evaluate respiratory diseases and conditions that influence how effectively the lungs deliver oxygen to and eliminate carbon dioxide from the blood.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
Blood gas analysis, also called arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis, is a test which measures the amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, as well as the acidity (pH) of the blood. Purpose An ABG analysis evaluates how effectively the lungs are delivering oxygen to the blood and how efficiently they are eliminating carbon dioxide from it.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
Blood gases are defined as the mixture of gases, including oxygen (O 2 ), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), and nitrogen (N 2 ), dissolved in the fluid fraction of blood. Oxygen from the air is transported from the lungs to all tissues of the body, where it is needed for metabolism ; and carbon dioxide, a by-product of metabolism, is taken from the tissues to the lungs to be eliminated.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
A chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.
Source:ADAM
Date:July 18, 2007
A chest x ray is a procedure used to evaluate organs and structures within the chest for symptoms of disease. Chest x rays include views of the lungs, heart, small portions of the gastrointestinal tract, thyroid gland and the bones of the chest area.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
Detailed information on chest x-rays, including reasons for the procedure
Source:StayWell
A chest x ray is a procedure used to evaluate organs and structures within the chest for symptoms of disease. Chest x rays include views of the lungs , heart , small portions of the gastrointestinal tract, and the bones of the chest area.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
A chest x ray is a procedure used to evaluate organs and structures within the chest for symptoms of disease. Chest x rays include views of the lungs, heart, small portions of the gastrointestinal tract, thyroid gland, and the bones of the chest area.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart. ECG is used to measure the rate and regularity of heartbeats as well as the size and position of the chambers, the presence of any damage to the heart, and the effects of drugs or devices used to regulate the heart (such as a pacemaker). See also stress test and Holter monitor (24h) .
Source:ADAM
Date:July 17, 2006
The electrocardiogram (ECG) displays important information about the heart, including the occurrence of a heart attack or lack of oxygen, whether conduction of the heartbeat is disturbed, or its rate or rhythm altered. It is useful as a rapid indicator of the diagnosis and it is easy, painless, and inexpensive to record.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Public Health
Detailed information on electrocardiogram, including how the EKG/ECG is performed and what happens after the procedure
Source:StayWell
Electrocardiography is a commonly used, noninvasive procedure for recording electrical changes in the heart. The record, which is called an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), shows the series of waves that relate to the electrical impulses that occur during each beat of the heart.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery
Did you know that electrical currents flow throughout your body? Because the strongest of these travels through your heart, doctors are able to monitor your heart by placing electrical sensors on the surface of your skin. They do this by giving you an electrocardiogram -- abbreviated either ECG or EKG (from the original German spelling of the word).
Source:StayWell
The ECG (also known as EKG) is a test that records electrical signals from your heart onto a paper strip. The pattern of these signals can tell the doctor whether your heart is normal, under stress, or experiencing electrical problems, strain, or damage.
Source:StayWell
Detailed information on an electrocardiogram (EKG) procedure, including how the procedure is performed, reasons for the procedure, and pre- and post-evaluation instructions
Source:StayWell
The Harvard Health Letter celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. In the first of a series, the Health Letter takes a look back at three decades in medicine.
Source:StayWell
During a physical examination, a health care provider studies a patient's body to determine the presence or absence of physical problems. A typical physical examination includes: Inspection (looking at the body) Palpation (feeling the body with hands) Auscultation (listening to sounds) Percussion (producing sounds)
Source:ADAM
Date:January 22, 2007
Allergy tests may be of two general types. In vivo tests that measure the immune response to an agent called an allergen that induces an allergic (atopic) reaction, and in vitro tests that measure the antibodies that mediate an allergic response.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
Pulmonary function tests are a broad range of tests that are usually done in a health care provider's office or a specialized facility. They measure how well the lungs take in and exhale air and how efficiently they transfer oxygen into the blood. Spirometry measures how well the lungs exhale. The information gathered during this test is useful in diagnosing certain types of lung disorders, but is most useful when assessing for obstructive lung diseases (especially asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD). Lung volume measurement detects restrictive lung diseases. In this set of diseases, a person cannot inhale a normal volume of air. Restrictive lung diseases may be caused by inflammation or scarring of the lung tissue (interstitial lung disease) or by abnormalities of the muscles or skeleton of the chest wall. Testing the diffusion capacity (also called the DLCO) permits an estimate of how efficiently the lungs transfer oxygen from the air into the bloodstream.
Source:ADAM
Date:November 12, 2007
Pulmonary function tests are a group of procedures that measure the function of the lungs, revealing problems in the way a patient breathes. The tests can determine the cause of shortness of breath and may help confirm lung diseases, such as asthma , bronchitis or emphysema .
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
A pulmonary function test shows how well your lungs are working. A complete test has three parts. You may be given the entire test or only certain parts. The entire test is painless and lasts 45–90 minutes.
Source:StayWell
Pulmonary function tests are a group of procedures that measure how well the lungs are functioning. Purpose Pulmonary function tests help a doctor to diagnose respiratory diseases and disorders such as asthma , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and emphysema, and mechanical injury by measuring the degree of lung impairment.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Children's Health
Pulmonary function tests are a group of procedures that measure the function of the lungs , revealing problems in the way a patient breathes. These tests can determine the cause of shortness of breath and may help confirm the diagnosis of such lung diseases as asthma , chronic bronchitis, or emphysema .
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
Pulmonary Exercise Stress TestRisks and ComplicationsLike many tests, this test involves some risks. They may include:Shortness of breath or wheezingRise or fall in blood pressureFainting, dizziness, or fatigueAbnormal heartbeat or heart rateHeart...
Source:StayWell
Normal individuals have a large reserve in lung function that allows breathing capacity to increase at least twenty to thirty times during periods of vigorous physical activity. It is not the ability to breathe that normally limits maximum exercise capability, nor does physical activity normally change lung function, either in the short-term or over time with training.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Public Health
Allergy tests are any of several tests used to determine the substances to which a person is allergic.
Source:ADAM
Date:July 17, 2007
The peak expiratory flow rate measures how fast a person can breath out (exhale) air. It is one of many tests that measure the how well your airways work.
Source:ADAM
Date:November 12, 2007
Spirometry is the measurement of airflow into and out of the lungs . The patient is given instructions on how to perform the breathing maneuvers.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health
Spirometry is the measurement of air flow into and out of the lungs. Spirometry requires that the nose is pinched off as the patient breathes through a mouthpiece attached to the spirometer.
Source:Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery
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