Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory disease, when the airways become sensitive to any substance that triggers an allergic reaction. It is known as a ‘variable’ disease, because symptoms can vary from person to person. When someone is exposed to certain triggers, the lining of the airways may become swollen and inflamed, the muscles that surround the airways tighten, or the production of mucus is increased. All of those factors cause the airways to narrow, which makes it difficult for air to go in and out of your lungs.
When my partner and I were considering science fair, we thought that it would be interesting to find out about a disease that we both unfortunately have. We wanted to compare the breathing rate of asthmatics to non-asthmatics.
When I was diagnosed with asthma, my doctors gave me a peak flow meter to evaluate how my disease was being controlled. From that, I thought that it could be a good tool to use to test the extent of affects on asthmatics compared to non-asthmatics.
Some common symptoms of asthma are coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, fatigue, nighttime cough and noisy breathing. These symptoms may come into play when the lungs and airways overreact to certain triggers. When you have asthma, the overreaction is called an asthma attack or asthma exacerbation. During an asthma attack, breathing becomes harder and may hurt; there also may be uncontrollable coughing and wheezing. Wheezing occurs because of the rush of air, which moves through the narrowed airways.
According to the many allergy, immunology and asthma organizations in Canada, there are many different asthma triggers. Triggers are divided into two different groups, inflammatory triggers and symptom triggers. Inflammatory triggers may cause the lungs airways to inflame or the airways’ muscles to tighten. Some of these types of triggers are dust mites, animals, cockroaches, moulds, pollens, viral infections and certain air pollutants. Symptom triggers are non-allergic. They may cause agitated airways, particularly if they’re already inflamed, but these triggers normally do not cause inflammation. Smoke, exercise, cold air, chemical fumes, some food additives (sulfites), certain air pollutants and intense emotions are some of this type of trigger.
When physicians are put up to the plate to diagnose a case of asthma and distinguish it from other lung disorders, they rely on medical history, physical examinations and laboratory tests. Tests such as: spirometry, chest x-rays, blood tests, allergy test and peak flow monitoring (PFM). This is when our peak flow meter comes into play in our experiment.
A peak flow expiratory flow meter is a device that is used to measure the amount of air a person can blow out of the lungs in liters per minute. During asthma or other respiratory flare ups the large airways in the lungs slowly begin to narrow. This will slow the speed of air leaving the lungs and can be measured by a PFM.
Relievers are used to quickly ease asthma symptoms. They relax the bands of muscles that surround the airways, but they do not reduce inflammation in the airways. Taking controller medication treats the inflammation.
Inhalers fall into two different categories, Aerosol Inhalers and Dry-powder Inhalers. An aerosol inhaler is a pressurized metered dose inhaler with a canister filled with asthma medication suspended in a propellant. When the canister is pushed down, a measured dose of the medication is pushed out as you breathe it in. Pressurized metered dose inhalers are commonly called “puffers”.
When using the Metered Dose Inhaler “Puffer” (MDI):
1) Shake the inhaler well before use (3 or 4 shakes).
2) Remove the cap.
3) Breathe out, away from your inhaler.
4) Bring the inhaler to your mouth. Place it in your mouth between your teeth and close your mouth around it.
5) Start to breathe in slowly. Press the top of your inhaler once and keep breathing in slowly until you have taken a full breath.
6) Remove the inhaler from your mouth, and hold your breath for about 10 seconds, then breathe out.
7) If you need a second puff, wait 30 seconds, shake your inhaler again, and repeat steps 3-6.
A dry-powder inhaler contains dry powder medication that is drawn into your lungs when you breathe in.
When using a Turbulaler, a type of dry-powder inhaler:
1) Unscrew the cap and take it off. Hold the inhaler upright.
2) Twist the colored grip of the Turbulaler as far as it will go. Then twist it all the way back. You have done it right when you hear a “click”.
3) Breathe out away from the device.
4) Put the mouthpiece between your teeth, and close your lips around it.
5) Breathe in forcefully and deeply through your mouth.
6) Remove the Turbuhaler from your mouth before breathing out.
7) When finished, replace the cap.
