What is lung number?

Ahead of ‘World Asthma Day’, city pulmonologists appealed to get prompt check-ups and understand the disease’s symptoms as part of an awareness event in Somajiguda on Thursday.

Stretching on the importance of lung check-up, Dr Param Jyoti, MD, FCCP, NIMS Hospital highlighted, “We should remember that asthma is a long-term disease that has no cure, but can be controlled well through inhalers. There are many patients who will stop taking their inhalers once they feel better. This can be dangerous and affect their breathing.”

The doctor demonstrated spirometry device that measures airflow and how well the lungs exhale. The test helps in early diagnosis of asthma. Dr Pradyut Waghray, Professor of Pulmonary Medicine, SVS Medical College, Mahabubnagar added, “It is important to understand the need to know your ‘lung number’ and why inhalation therapy is the most effective to control asthma and breathlessness. This World Asthma Day, we urge people who are asthmatic or feel breathless should get the spirometry test or pulmonary test, a first step to understand symptoms.”