Expert: Marc Rubin, RPh Asthma Educator - 8/29/2011

Question
My pulmonologist said that my predicted value for FEV1/FVC was 78%.  He said my lungs were okay, but he also said that my response to the albuteral was 13%, so I could have some slight asthma?  Could I still feel asthmatic symptoms even though lungs are good?  He game me some symbicort to try for two weeks?

Thanks for any reply,
John

Answer
Hi John,

A spirometric test result of 12% improvement or greater when albuterol is administered is indicative of asthma. RAD is just a more accurate label of the term asthma.

Have you been treated for asthma in the past?

Did the physician demonstrate the proper technique to use the inhaler..critical for success, or just told you how to do it?

You can still have asthma symptoms even though your lungs "feel" good, since your sense of good is a personal perception of everyday life, and asthmatics have a tendency to accept mediocre breathing as normal...hence, the need for a test to evaluate the proper status.

I'd prefer an evaluation after 30 days, not 2 weeks, to give the steroid adequate time to get the tissue inflammation down. If successful, this does not mean you are off the meds, since, in asthmatics, a low level of underlying inflammation is ALWAYS present. But instead of needing the combo drug Symbicort, you could be stepped back to the steroid only, and the one used in Symbicort..budesonide (Pulmicort), can be take only once a day.

It would be a good idea to get a peak flow meter, an inexpensive devise to check you function at home. With time you would have a grater ability to assess how your lungs are doing, just as a diabetic using a meter will have a greater sense of where their blood sugar level is by how they feel.

If you follow up with me, go back and note the information listed under my name that requests data about yourself which gives me a better picture of what may be the underlying trigger problems.

Sincerely,

Marc