COPD & Emphysema Support Group
COPD is a progressive disease characterized by airflow obstruction or limitation. Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and of capillaries feeding the alveoli. Both have symptoms that include shortness of breath, among other respiratory troubles. If you are a COPD or Emphysema sufferer, join...
Researchers at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, came up with some surprising results during a trial of patients with asthma and COPD. The year-long trial compared more than 250 patients from 31 general practices who were regularly being tested using spirometry with patients receiving usual care.
Existing guidelines encourage regular monitoring, but Michael Abramson, BMedSc, PhD, lead author of the study, disagreed, saying, We found that the recommended regular 3-month spirometry and medical review made little difference to quality of life, respiratory symptoms, asthma attacks, written asthma action plans, or health care service use in patients with asthma and/or COPD.
He stressed that spirometry is a critical tool in the diagnosis of COPD and asthma, but added that this study questions its effectiveness in helping to manage patients who already have the condition. He added that he does not recommend more widespread use of spirometry in general practice, although there is a role for spirometry as a gold standard to establish the diagnosis.
My recommendation to patients with COPD and asthma, Abramson says, is to continue their regular visits to their doctor not necessarily to undergo spirometry testing every time, but to ensure their medication can be reviewed and to maintain general health.
Existing guidelines encourage regular monitoring, but Michael Abramson, BMedSc, PhD, lead author of the study, disagreed, saying, We found that the recommended regular 3-month spirometry and medical review made little difference to quality of life, respiratory symptoms, asthma attacks, written asthma action plans, or health care service use in patients with asthma and/or COPD.
He stressed that spirometry is a critical tool in the diagnosis of COPD and asthma, but added that this study questions its effectiveness in helping to manage patients who already have the condition. He added that he does not recommend more widespread use of spirometry in general practice, although there is a role for spirometry as a gold standard to establish the diagnosis.
My recommendation to patients with COPD and asthma, Abramson says, is to continue their regular visits to their doctor not necessarily to undergo spirometry testing every time, but to ensure their medication can be reviewed and to maintain general health.
It's a useful tool to monitor improvement or degradation. In the five years I've recieved treatment for CODP, I've only been tested by a doctor once and that was last month.
Are you sure you're not talking about a peak flow meter?
Thanks for the post Holly.
Jo x
My doctor hasn't done one on me since I started going to him in Jan this year.
But I had one done by the SSDI/SSI people........what was weird is she had me do it 7 times. I guess she wanted it to be good and thought if she kept going she get the best results....they are into NOT giving you SSDI/SSI is what I fig. She didn't hardly talk and I didn't either.
But it would be interesing to find out what it said?
I was told last week when I was in for my psy testing....the man told me I could get a copy if I go down to my local office. So i haven't done that should do that. I want to know.
Althought I guess it isn't that important.
I don't know if I said anything in my juronal or not......but I did one thing that is very puzzling to that guy that was testing me. I remember the puzzle from the beginning of the test....he goes back to them and you got to remember. Well he said I was the first person to ever do that remember the puzzles???? O M G i am scared now I was too smart.
Don't know why I remember he kept asking me how I did that?
like a card game.......how did you do that? LOL
All I know I thought it was ESP!!!!! lol espeically that is the week were were all talking about Debbi's ghost and all. Maybe one came and help me thru the tests?
LOL
Well just idea...........I wish they would have those things FV1 that didn't cost so much money I own one just for the interests of it all.
Have a good day thanks for the topic it was a great one.