Bronchial Asthma & Nitric Oxide

Asthma is one of the most common diseases of the respiratory system in which the lumen of the airways that carry air to the lungs for breathing narrows.

The diagnosis of bronchial asthma is often easy and is based on the sudden onset of shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and tightness in the chest.

However, many different diseases can present similar symptoms.

Therefore, in addition to the clinical examination and the measurement of the respiratory function for the correct diagnosis of bronchial asthma, it is also necessary to assess the inflammation of the airways. This allergic inflammation can be assessed by measuring exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), the levels of which are increased in patients with allergic bronchial asthma.

Monitoring the symptoms of bronchial asthma is important, but the correct measurement of inflammation will also determine the correct treatment. The measurement of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) immediately gives the answer to key questions such as:

*Which patients with vague or multiple respiratory symptoms have allergic inflammation?
*Is the bronchial asthma properly controlled with the treatment already received?
*Is it being overtreated when it could be controlled with lower doses of inhaled corticosteroids?
*Has there been a change in exposure to allergens?

The measurement of nitric oxide (FeNO), a simple method, easily performed by both adults and children, does not require any special preparation and can be done in any specialized pulmonology center.