LUNG SOUND ANALYSIS

Patients with bronchial asthma have chronic inflammation of their airways.  Even when breathing seems normal and no wheezes can be heard with a stethoscope, inflammation still exists.  Doctors can sometimes assess the degree of inflammation by measuring the amount of nitric oxide that is present in exhaled breath.  Newer technologies use computer-aided lung sound analysis (LSA) to collect information about very subtle changes in lung inflammation by recording sounds that cannot be heard with a stethoscope.  The ratio of expiration (breathing out) to inhalation (breathing in) is recorded.  LSA tests are non-invasive and are performed during asthma attack-free periods.  Knowing the amount of inflammation normally existent in the patient’s airways helps allergists customize asthma treatment protocols.

P.S.  The lung sounds of asthmatic and non-asthmatic patients are routinely checked with a stethoscope during visits to the doctor’s office.

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