Asthma & Air Trapping

Hi All,

Quick question.  I'm currently undergoing tests as I may potentially have asthma.  I quit smoking cigarettes over 3 years ago and have just recently (about a month ago) quit smoking marijuana after about 5 years of chronic use.  My question is this...I took a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) test at the pulmonologist's last week and everything came back normal except for one item which was I did not exhale as much air as I had inhaled which leads me to think that some air may be getting trapped.  I know that this is what leads to the destruction of the lungs in conditions such as emphysema and COPD but was wondering if this also happens intermittantly with asthma as well aka is this a normal symptom.  After I had scored slightly less than normal for my age (23) they gave me a nebulizer treatment and my scores came out as they should be once I took the test again.  Just wondering if the air trapping is a symptom of asthma in addition to a symptom of emphysema and COPD.  Thanks.

[tgal]

I am also 23 but I have never inhaled any smoke of any sort (unless walking in and out of buildings counts) I was diagnosed with trigger indused asthma. My PFT had the same result except my numbers were not greatly different, just low for my age. All it means is that you are not completely emptying your lungs even though you think you are. It is probably a symptom of asthma (that is what I assumed it was) although my doctor told me it was probably because I was slightly (just 20 pounds) overweight for my weight class and not in the best physical shape. I hope this helps!

[Bigboi223]

Thanks very much for the response!  I recall my doctor mentioning something like this as well (being trigger induced).  Only difference is I've been working out on a daily basis for at least an hour and a half a day for the last 5 years or so so I'm definately in shape despite my smoking habits.  Either way I've stopped smoking and am not planning on going back to those habits so hopefully my lungs will heal as best they can.  Thanks again and take care of yourself.

[Allisonc78]

Air trapping is common in asthma. That is what causes the tightness you can get in the chest. As far as the destruction of the lungs I'm not sure about and no one has told me this. In emphysema air trapping is not what destroys the lungs but it is a symptom of it. If your numbers came back normal after a nebulizer it is more than likely asthma.