Maria began to experience difficulty breathing
Maria, 47, lives a busy life with four active teenage children. A little more than a year ago, she started having breathing problems when exercising. She developed constant coughing and difficulty completing her regular tennis sessions. But it wasn't until her child began to comment on her breathing that she decided to contact healthcare.
"The kids started wondering, 'Why are you panting just going upstairs' when we got home with groceries from the store.
At regular examinations, the health centre did not understand that it was asthma
Maria met a nurse and did a spirometry. Spirometry measures the exhaled air and is the most common examination to see if you have asthma.
The examination is conducted so that Maria first does a spirometry. After that, she takes asthma medications that are allowed to work for at least 15 minutes. Then a new spirometry is done. If the spirometry improves after medication, at least 12%, it is said to be asthma.
"When I did the spirometry, I didn't notice much difference in my breathing despite the medication and thought that maybe it wasn't asthma after all.
A common problem is the diagnosis of asthma in the clinic
A common dilemma in the healthcare is that few people get a clear difference when performing a spirometry, and health personnel are then uncertain whether it is asthma. Instead, it's common for the doctor to try to find out if it's asthma, based on the explained ailments and by testing asthma treatment for a couple of months.
"If I had been diagnosed with asthma even though it didn't show up on the test and I was prescribed asthma medicine, I would have been very sceptical about the diagnosis. I wouldn't have wanted to take medicine every day that I don't even know if I really need unless I'm convinced that I actually have asthma.”
New digital technology captures asthma symptoms in everyday life
Maria's nurse offered her to try a new digital tool to really investigate her problem. She got her own smart lung function meter that connects via Bluetooth to her mobile phone. Among other things, it registers values as a traditional PEF meter and automatically calculates the variability in the day. During a period of two weeks, Maria is asked to use the lung function meter at least twice a day, but also in case of symptoms.
"I blew a lot in the Asthma Tuner and the nurse could suddenly take part in my problems in everyday life.
With the help of AsthmaTuner, Maria received an asthma diagnosis
A person who does not have asthma has a lung function that is reasonably constant at the same level. A person with asthma has a lung function that changes during the day. Maria's nurse could directly see all the values and easily assess problems in her everyday life, by using the smart app. If the diurnal variation exceeds 10 % for an adult or 13 % for a child, this corresponds to asthma (seep.13). In the picture below you can clearly see how Maria's lung function varies.
"When I saw the graph with my nurse, it was so clear and I understood that I really need asthma medicine. It feels good not to have to worry and to know that I have the right diagnosis.”
With proper treatment, symptoms were reduced
Now Maria has an individualized treatment plan and continues to use AsthmaTuner, but a different tool. Now Maria is supported to test her asthma and based on how she feels, she gets to see what medicine and dose to take. It means that Maria is taking the right level of asthma medicine so that she can live as usual without any symptoms.
"Now I can train again and I've finally gotten rid of the cough!"
With proper treatment, symptoms were reduced
Now Maria has an individualized treatment plan and continues to use AsthmaTuner, but a different tool. Now Maria is supported to test her asthma and based on how she feels, she gets to see what medicine and dose to take. It means that Maria is taking the right level of asthma medicine so that she can live as usual without any symptoms.
"Now I can train again and I've finally gotten rid of the cough!"
