Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways, or bronchial tubes, in the lungs. Asthmatic inflammation causes the airways to become swollen, narrow and fill with mucus, which leads to shortness of breath, chest tightness, and often, chronic cough. Diagnosing asthma and identifying triggers are key steps to minimizing symptoms.
Spirometry is a type of pulmonary function test (PFT), a noninvasive procedure that provides important information about how well the lungs are working. More specifically, it reveals how much air is moving through the lungs and how quickly as you breathe through a tube. The test is used to diagnose respiratory conditions such as asthma, assess progress (is it getting better, worse, or staying the same?) and to monitor how well treatment is working. The test is performed in the office, with adults and children older than age 5 years, and the results are available right away.
FeNO stands for fractional exhaled nitric oxide. When you breathe out, your breath can show if you have inflamed airways. A FeNO test measures the amount of nitric oxide in your breath. This test evaluates for the presence and level of inflammation in the airways. A FeNO test is a quick and non-invasive test that is easy for both children and adults to do. To take the test, you will blow into a handheld device that will track your results. FeNO is done in the office, and the test results are available right away.