Spirometry

Spirometry
Spirometry is increasingly used in primary care settings for the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with respiratory conditions. Conducting and interpreting the test is now part of many practice nurses' role. Spirometry is, ...

Respiratory disease: Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms in respiratory disease
Respiratory disease is common throughout the world and it accounts for high levels of mortality and morbidity. Diseases range from mild to severe and can be acute or chronic. Chronic respiratory ...

Respiratory diseases: Guidelines and Management

Current guidelines for the management of asthma and COPD
The purpose of clinical guidelines is to help healthcare professionals make correct decisions about the management of specific conditions. Guidelines are based on the most up to date ...

Respiratory disease: Management of acute exacerbations

Management of acute exacerbations in asthma and COPD
One of the aims of management, for both Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma, is to prevent, or reduce the incidence of acute exacerbations. This is achieved with the use ...

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation
People who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) frequently reduce their level of activity because of the uncomfortable symptoms of breathlessness that can occur on any exercise. This inactivity results in ...

Optimising therapy in asthma and COPD

Asthma and COPD are the two most commonly found obstructive lung conditions. The obstruction, which restricts airflow in and out of the lungs, is caused by narrowing of the airways. In asthma this narrowing is variable and reversible either ...

Poorly controlled asthma: treatment options in the current BTS/SIGN guideline. Read and reflect

Poorly controlled asthma in adults: treatment options in the current BTS/SIGN guideline.
Read and reflect
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Asthma – Diagnosis

INTRODUCTION
The effective treatment of asthma depends on the correct diagnosis being made in the first place. In 2019 the British Thoracic Society (BTS) and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) published their latest ...

Diagnostic criteria in asthma & COPD

INTRODUCTION
Respiratory symptoms of cough, wheeze and shortness of breath are common to many respiratory conditions and can pose a challenge to health care professionals when making a diagnosis. In practice, asthma and chronic obstructive ...

Inhaler technique in asthma and COPD

INTRODUCTION
Respiratory symptoms and disease are common health issues in the UK today. Inhaled therapy is the method of choice for the delivery of many respiratory drugs and correct technique with inhaler devices is critical to effective ...