The following are some testing and diagnostic procedures that are used by doctors and medical providers to identify asthma cases. Spirometry The Spirometry test is used to diagnose asthma and identify its severity.  In a spirometry test, you breathe forcefully into a tube and a device measures the amount of airflow passing through it.  This is known as forced expiratory volume (FEV). It also measures your total lung capacity i.e. the largest amount of air you are able to breath out. This is known as Forced Vital Capacity (FVC). People will asthma will have restricted airflow, which will be represented by a decreased FEV and FEV:FVC ratio. If a patient is given medication to help open the lungs (bronchodilator) and then repeats the spirometry test, these numbers will show an improvement in most cases. Peak Flow A peak flow meter can be used to monitor breathing capacity and to check the effectiveness of asthma treatments . This is a handheld device that you breathe into as hard as you can. As you blow an arrow will rise, indicating how much air you were able to breathe. The higher the number, the better. Most devices will also be color coded. Green indicates a good number with adequate asthma control, yellow indicates a need to seek medical help, and red indicates an emergency.

While no cure for asthma currently exists, there are medications available that can help stabilize the condition and reduce the frequency of, or even prevent, further asthma attacks. Some patients can outgrow asthma. Those afflicted with persistent or intermittent asthma can use medication to manage the symptoms. For asthma patients, it is important to avoid known triggers of asthma and be aware of the warning signs of an acute attack. Doctors and medical providers will prescribe medication based on the asthma symptoms exhibited and severity types of asthma .  Commonly used asthma medications include bronchodilators, corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, and mast cell stabilizers. Bronchodilators Short acting beta adrenergic blockers. e.g. Albuterol Short acting bronchodilators are often the first line of treatment for patients who have low severity cases and exhibit asthma symptoms less than  twice a week. They are administered by inhaler in order to open up the airways during an asthma attack. Long acting beta adrenergic blockers. Salmeterol, formoterol, etc Used for maintenance and administered daily via inhaler. Beta agonists are medications that bind to the beta receptors on the muscles surrounding the bronchial tree and cause them to relax so that the airways can remain open. Inhaled corticosteroids Common brands include Flovent, Beclovent, and Pulmicort.

Asthma is a condition that affects an estimated 300 million people across the globe. There are a number of complications that can arise for asthma patients. Some of these include- Increased risk of infections such as pneumonia or influenza. Decreased quality of life due to poor management of the condition. Remodelling of the lungs due to chronic inflammation. Status asthmaticus – an acute form of asthma in which attacks follow each other without pause. Patients afflicted with this do not easily respond to traditional asthma treatments. If you are an asthma patient, you can easily implement methods to avoid any of the aforementioned complications by developing an asthma treatment plan with your doctor. Some of these methods include- Not smoking. Avoiding asthma triggers and acting upon early detection of asthma symptoms . Inoculating yourself with a flu or pneumonia shot. Maintaining good hygiene practices, such as regular hand-washing, in order to limit exposure to allergy.

Breast Lumps Can Be Cancerous or Non Cancerous Benign breast tumors are noncancerous masses of cells that can be removed and will not lead to further harm. Malignant tumors refer to tumors that are composed of cancer cells. Malignant tumors have the ability to spread to other tissues, in a process known as metastasis. What separates benign from malignant tumors is the ability of the cells to spread outside of their structure. Breast Cancer Identified by Type The “type” refers to the area in which the cancer cells originate. While most breast cancer arises from the superficial epithelial cells, some originate in the deeper connective tissue in the breast. The four most common types of breast cancer are carcinomas (originating the epithelial cells) DSIC, or Ductal Carcinoma In Situ  Breast cancer that remains inside the milk ducts. LCIS, or Lobular Carcinoma In Situ A large growth of cells that remain inside the milk lobules.  IDC, or Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Invasive cancer that has spread from the milk ducts to the surround normal breast tissue and is the most common form of breast cancer. ILC, or Invasive Lobular Carcinoma Invasive cancer that begins in the milk lobules but grows into the surrounding normal breast tissue.

In the United States, breast cancer continues to rank as the most common cancer in women, irrespective of race or ethnicity. It is predicted that 12% of women in the United States will develop breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. While the death rate of breast cancer continues to remain high, the survival rate has greatly improved over the years thanks to new screening guidelines and treatment . It is estimated that the survival rate has tripled over the past 60 years and are improving faster than any other cancer. Worldwide nearly 1.7 million new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in 2012. This represented 25% of all new cancer diagnoses in women and 12% of all new cancer cases in both sexes. Belgium had the highest rate of breast cancer at 111.9 new cases per 100,000 people. The United States ranked 9th in rate of breast cancer diagnosis, with 92.9 new cases per 100,000 people. Generally, the developed world experiences a much higher rate of breast cancer, with lower rates found throughout Asia and Africa. Breast cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in Hispanic women and the second most common cause of cancer deaths among white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women.

Breast cancer may not present with any recognizable signs or symptoms until later in development. This could be due to having a small lump that can’t be felt, or not developing noticeable changes within the breast or body that would be indicative of cancer. All these reasons are why it is important to follow mammogram screening and self-breast exam guidelines. Guidelines Breast self-examination: This is a screening technique used by women to self-examine their breasts for any unusual lumps by performing circular motions around the breast starting at the nipple and working to the base of the breast. This screening should be performed by women once a month, preferably not while in the period. Mammograms should be performed starting at age 45-50 and continue bi-annually (once every 2 years) until the age of 74. Some women may need to have mammogram screening at a younger age due to family history of breast cancer, but this decision should be taken with the advice of your medical provider. Medical breast exam: should be performed yearly by your medical provider Breast cancer may be detected by physical, or self-examination, but needs to be confirmed using one of the following methods: Mammogram The most common method for screening and diagnosing breast cancer is mammogram.It is used to detect, identify, or examine breast lumps. A mammogram is performed by a machine that uses x-rays to identify breast lumps that may be too small to feel.