Chiropractors

Many times people with lung problems go to their doctor and are advised that they need a spirometry test; however, many patients have never heard of this procedure and immediately ask their doctor – what is spirometry? Fortunately, it is a relatively easy procedure that simply requires exhaling into a special tube designed to help measure the patient’s lung function.

Whether you have asthma, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, COPD or some other type of lung disorder, the use of spirometry can help your doctor not only diagnose or monitor your condition, but can also give them valuable information on how best to treat your particular problem. The spirometer is able to measure not only how much air was released by the patient, but depending on the particular meter used, it can also measure how quickly it was released. This is an excellent tool to use in determining how well a patient’s lungs are functioning.

When a patient performs the spirometry test, some doctors prefer to have them wear a nose clip. This helps to ensure that all air being released is measured by the spirometer and does not escape out the nose causing an inaccurate reading. The patient should be advised to take a couple of deep breaths before beginning the test. When the patient is ready, they should inhale deeply, then as quickly and as hard as possible they must exhale into the special tube on the spirometer. The procedure is sometimes repeated a couple of times to get a good reading because it is easy for the patient to not fully complete the procedure exactly as necessary. Sometimes a quick demonstration by the doctor or nurse performing the test can help ensure that the patient fully understands how to blow hard and fast.

Once the results are calculated by the spirometer a pneumotachograph is generally printed and can be placed in the patients chart for future reference and comparisons. The results can also be reviewed by the doctor and patient. The results of spirometry are calculated by comparing the patient’s results with those of healthy individuals of the same age, sex, height and weight. With the information from this simple test a doctor can determine if current treatment plans are working as planned or if medication and other treatment options should be implemented.

The Spirometer takes two separate measurements; the first measurement is the amount of air a patient is able to expel in a single second. This measurement is referred to as the forced expiratory volume or FEV1. The other measurement is known as the Forced Vital Capacity or FVC, this is a measurement of the volume of air a patient expels during the testing process. These two figures are then compared. If the ration between these two measurements is less than 70%, the patient may have abnormal lung function.

There are other tools that can be used to help doctors determine pulmonary function; however, the spirometer is one of the most common PFTs or Pulmonary Function Tests currently in use.

When visiting a Chiropractor, the main services that you expect include; spinal manipulation and the chiropractic body adjustments. In most Chiropractic centers, a specialized initial assessment of the problem is done by the Chiropractor to establish the problem at hand. The initial Chiropractor’s assessment involves the taking of a comprehensive medical history of the patient as well as performing a basic and intensive examination with an intention to professionally evaluate the situation. Such an assessment can also involve routine test to reveal the normal range of the motion of the patient. The Chiropractor can then create a treatment program for the patient based on the specialized initial assessment and tests carried out.

Another main service offered by a Chiropractor is the specialized treatment of pregnancy related complications. Pregnant women undergo and experience a range of diverse pain. In most cases, much of the pain experienced is associated with the body’s natural realignment in adaptation of the growing fetus in the womb. The growth forces both the pelvis and back to move about out of normal body alignment of the pregnant woman. Many pregnant women, especially those who undergo severe backache, use chiropractic care offered in most chiropractic centers to keep the pains under control. Such a specialized care ensures that the pregnant woman enjoys a healthy and pain free pregnancy throughout the pregnancy period. The Chiropractor usually employs non-invasive techniques to assist the body of the pregnant woman to adjust to the weight of the growing baby which pulls the spine and even the pelvis of the woman out of normal body alignment.

A Chiropractor can also offer sports chiropractic treatment services. As the injured body gets over the initial pain, it undergoes the healing mode and this can be helped by sports chiropractic treatment where the Chiropractor ensures the body is kept in normal alignment during the healing of the injury. The alignment helps the injured to experience a quicker normal range of motion. The whole process triggers quicker healing and thus the injured takes a short time to go back to the normal sporting activities. The sports chiropractic treatment is also suitable for sporting children due to the fact that is quickens the healing process apart fro controlling the pain that one undergoes.

Another important service that is offered by a Chiropractor is chiropractic education. There is stigma associated with the chiropractic services in most areas and thus empowerment and informative campaigns shades out the light and the truth of the chiropractic practice. For patients dealing with severe back pain or other chronic pain source ailments, there is a batter treatment option offered by the chiropractors. The treatment option cannot be offered by mainstream treatments since it is a specialized treatment option.  Look for a Chiropractor and you will get a perfect and great relief. The fact that the pain is put under control is a great relief to most patients. The other important fact to note about the chiropractic treatment is that the pain is put in control by proper body alignment.