My Crohn's and Colitis Blog » Diagnose Asthma » cardio-pulmonary check-up
cardio-pulmonary check-up
Question:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Recently have been having steadily worsening problems with my breathing, can barely catch a breath at most times, chest is *severely* tightand heart pounds strongly for no reason. Have been using bronchodilator (Ventilon) and steroid (Vanceril) combo for asthma prescribed two years ago by my Dr., but the benefits of these have been declining or haven’t worked at all lately. Am going to see my MD at my HMO next week. What I’d like to know is what I should ask for in terms of a full cardio-pulmonary checkup, I’m not too knowledgable about this area. Last visit he mentioned getting a chest Xray which is fine, but I want to know what else I should ask for. I’d like to have my pulmonary output and oxygen/CO2 levels checked as well as possibly my heart in general, what tests are appropriate and might be suggested and which aren’t? I’d like to be as knowledgeable as possible so I can get the necessary testing done all at once and not have to keep going back if the problem increases, with the HMO cost-cutting I’m not sure they’ll automatically do the full complement of tests if I don’t ask for them. Thanks for any replies.
Short-acting bronchodilators like Ventolin are no longer recommended to be used on a regular basis for maintenance; only for ‘rescue’ or exercise. If you are using your Ventolin puffer more than once/day it indicates the need for more long-acting preventor drugs, in your case the Vanceril inhaler. Ventolin can cause heart palpitations in some. Vanceril is now available in a double strength version, Vanceril DS, which is what most people on this drug should be using, even for Mild asthma. For Severe asthma, even stronger steroid inhalers, Pulmicort and Flovent 220, are available. Sounds like you need a referral to a good asthma doctor; an allergist or pulmonologist specializing in asthma. And lung function tests to properly diagnose your lung condition, and rule out look-alike conditions. A spirometer lung function test would be the minimum to diagnose asthma; with lung function measured before and after administering a bronchodilator. A 15% improvement tends to confirm asthma. Also if you have allergies these should be evaluated so you can take avoidance measures. Lung function tests in a pulmonary function lab could be more definitive. Also recommended for most asthmatics is a Peak Flow Meter to monitor lung function at home, and an Action Plan to adjust meds based on Peak Flows. You might also need a referral to a cardiologist; and a treadmill test to rule out heart conditions. Ellis
Response:
: x-no-archive: yes : Recently have been having steadily worsening problems with my breathing, can : barely catch a breath at most times, chest is *severely* tightand heart pounds : strongly for no reason. Have been using bronchodilator (Ventilon) and steroid : (Vanceril) combo for asthma prescribed two years ago by my Dr., but the : benefits of these have been declining or haven’t worked at all lately. Not sure if any of this is helpful… not even sure if it is 100% accurate, but… if your chest is severely tight, it is likely that your asthma is not well-controlled and it would be advisable to go see your doctor ASAP. As for the heart pounding, well there are many causes for that, including the ventolin if you use too much and even (?) just the heart attempting to correct the oxygen shortage in your system. Best to ask your doctor. : Am going to see my MD at my HMO next week. What I’d like to know is what I : should ask for in terms of a full cardio-pulmonary checkup, I’m not too : knowledgable about this area. Last visit he mentioned getting a chest Xray : which is fine, but I want to know what else I should ask for. I’d like to have I really don’t know if asking for a full cardio-pulmonary checkup is a good or a bad idea, but you might want to ask about a peak-flow meter, if you have not got one already, assuming that you are not one of those people for whom these things are not useful. Of course, if you want a full check-up, it might be an idea to get a referral to a good pulmonologist*. You might want to know if you have any allergies too. As for the X-ray, I believe that it is generally used to rule out things which are not asthma, like TB. Cheers, Kin Hooong *Yes, yes, more expense, but then the pulmonologist specialises in lungs.
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