Testing lung capacity key to Illinois specialists identifying cause of asthma symptoms

Posted By: Noga Askenazi M.D. | Published On: Oct 30, 2017 | Lung Function Testing

If you have maintained the same fitness regimen, but your athletic performance has suffered with more birthdays, reduced lung capacity may be to blame. As you get older elastic tissues deteriorate and arthritic changes to the rib cage reduce the lungs’ ability to inflate and deflate, and efficiently move air in and out of the lungs.

However, you can develop asthma, which affects how the lungs function, at any age. Some people find asthma subsides as they reach adulthood. Many find asthma returns in adulthood. Still others experience asthma symptoms for the first time as an older person.

How asthma takes its toll

Asthma generally affects the lungs by inflaming the airways, the tubes that move the air you breathe in and out of the lungs. This swelling and redness can make the airways sensitive to everyday substances in the environment such as cool temperatures, animal dander, and dust. It’s no coincidence that, in turn, allergic asthma triggered by environmental allergens is the most common type of asthma.

As you breathe in the triggers, already inflamed airways produce extra mucus and become even more swollen. This excessive swelling can make it even more difficult for the air to move in and out of the lungs. The muscles that wrap around the airways make breathing even more difficult as they tighten.

Measuring how the lungs function

The specialists at Advanced Allergy & Asthma Associates and Food Allergy Center of Illinois can actually measure how the air moves in and out of the lungs. The “gold standard” in lung function testing commonly used to diagnose asthma is known as “spirometry.”

The test is fast and easy. Dr. Noga Askenazi and the staff will ask you to breathe into a tube. They will prompt you to breathe in different ways; how you breathe is then measured and analyzed by the spirometer machine connected to the tube. As it relates to lung capacity, the test measures:

The maximum amount of air that fills the lungs
The total amount of air that can be exhaled after fully inhaling
The maximum amount of air that can be inhaled
The amount of air left in the lungs after exhaling normally.

Dr. Askenazi and the staff use such data to make an accurate diagnosis. This diagnosis is important to guide proper, effective treatment. The test may also be used to determine how well current treatments are working. For more information about how testing lung capacity can bring you one step closer to an answer to your troublesome symptoms in Illinois, call (847) 888-8802.

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Meredith Cirrincione, MS, PA-C

Meredith Cirrincione is a board certified Physician Assistant and specializes in treating allergies, with a focus on asthma, rashes, environmental allergies, chemical and food allergies. She holds a Masters in Physician Assistant Studies from The Chicago Medical School - Rosalind Franklin University of Health Sciences. She is a Fellow member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants, and the Association of PAs in Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. She likes to approach things holistically. She is a strong patient advocate and adored by her patients. She enjoys singing, reading, cooking, and the great outdoors.

Noga Askenazi M.D.

Dr. Noga Askenazi is a nationally recognized asthma and allergy specialist who is board certified in pediatric and adult allergy. Her areas of special interest are innovative treatment of rashes, sinusitis, food allergies, asthma and immune disorders. She was past President of the ISAAI (Illinois Society of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology), works on state and national committees for advancement of the allergy field and is a consultant for Advocate, Ascension Health, Northwestern amongst other health care systems. Her joy is helping patients reach their goals after together determining best treatments. Her staff and patients are a chosen family, and she invests in their happiness. She enjoys gardening, biking and cooking to good music.

Susan Bockman, FNP

Susan Bockman is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner who specializes in treating asthma, allergies, and related skin conditions. With both personal and professional experience in managing allergies, she brings a compassionate and holistic approach to patient care. Susan earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Northern Illinois University and is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society in Nursing. She is deeply committed to supporting families and individuals through comprehensive, empathetic care. Outside the clinic, she enjoys genealogy, long walks with audiobooks, antiquing, and watching football with her family.