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213398 tn?1202670474

spirometry results, asthma? copd? reactive airway disease ?

38 male. Pack a day smoker for 16 years. 5'6 160 pounds . my brother has asthma his whole life so i guess you can say  there is family history ?   7 months ago i developed a  cough that lasted 5 weeks then just a month ago got the same thing. cough. non productive or hardly productive any production was clear phleghm. took antibiotics. ER doc said it was possibly chronic bronchitis. follow up pulmonologist said its possibly "reactive airway disease" he also said i should NOT be taking medicine for it and does not feel like he should prescribe anything since its 'mild"
once a week once every other week i get a cough that feels like my breathing is slightly congested. i try to cough it out but nothing comes out. it usually happens when im stressed or having too much anxiety. also happens mostly at my girlfriends house. she has pet rodents there. can i be allergic ?

1. do i have chronic bronchitis as the ER doctor suggested or "reactive airway disease" as the pulmonologist says?
2. do i have reactive airway disease? whats the difference between reactive disease and  asthma?
3. i get around 550 on the peak flow meter is that normal ? below normal?
4. can this be COPD? or early COPD. ?
5. what exactly copd ? is it not reversible? are asthma or reactive airway disease considered COPD ? or is COPD just emphysima and such ?
6. do i have asthma ? can i have developed asthma at 38 years old ? if so can it be reversed ?
7. can it be coming form my girlfriends pets? allergies?
8. does this sound like its gonna get worse as i get older ? is it going to shorten my life ?
9. can whatever i have be a direct result of my smoking? if so will it go away after i quit?
10. how do my spirometry results look to you ?
11. last question. on the second page of spirometry report. it says. "the diffusing capacity is normal. however the diffusing capacity was not corrected for the patients hemoglobin. --- ok my question. does this have to do with my blood circulation or heart or anything? does it indicate some sort of undiagnosed congestive heart disease?
      ok. attached are the results of my pre and post med spirometry results. the website only allows one page upload so here is what the second page says. ATTN TO READER: THE FIRST PAGE IS IN THE FORM OF A PHOTO ATTACHMENT. <<<<

                      pre bronch    actual          pred      % pred              post-bronch actual     % pred     % chang
delta N2 750 - 1250 (%)       0.65
cv/vc %                             25.13

the fev1 and fvc are reduced but the fev1/fvc ratio is normal. the mvv is reduced. while the vital capacity and total lung capacity are within normal limits, the rv/tlc ratio is increased.following administration of bronchodiolators, there is a significant response indicated by the increased FVC. the diffusing capacity is normal. however, the diffusing capacity was not corrected for the patients hemoglobin.
conclusions: mild airway obstruction and a response to bronchodiolators indicates asthma.
pulmonary function diagnosis" mild obstructive airway disease - ashmatic type
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213398 tn?1202670474
thank you so much with your indepth answers to all my questions. i read it and reread it and it answered my questions and was very helpful and educating me further on the subject and my concerns. so you don't think that i look like i have copd ? especially emphyshima? also the reason i was asking about the heart related shortness of breath is because i'm a very worrisome person with tons of stress and smoke so much for so many years . perhaps i developed heart problems causing the sensation of lack of air ? and also this is what part of the report read
"the diffusing capacity is normal. however, the diffusing capacity was not corrected for the patients hemoglobin. "

doesnt hemoglobin refer to blood and if so wouldnt lack of hemoglobin in blood possibly indicate poor heart function ?

thank you again
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Avatar universal
I am not a doctor, but have persistant severe asthma.  I have done significant research on the subject and read a lot about COPD.

1)  Chronic bronchitis is a form of COPD.  "Reactive airway disease" is a catch all category for diseases like asthma, COPD and a few others where the patient reacts irritants or allergens with adversely.  The final few words of your post is a diagnosis of mild asthma.
2)  According to the last line of your post - you have asthma, a reactive airway disease.
3) Peak flows are very individual.  Population norms have been established, but where you fall in relation to the norm you would have to ask your doctor.  Most people are either above or below the norm.  I am a 5'8" 44 year old female with a high peak flow of 590.  My norm for gender and age is about 530.  I am significantly above the norm.  If you continue seeing a doctor for this, you will learn what your norm is.
4 & 5) Again, your diagnosis is asthma, which is way better than COPD.  COPD is non-reversible but can be maintained if the patient takes care of themselves.  Asthma is characterized by reversible lung function.  Emphasema is a form of COPD.  All forms of COPD are irreversible.  
6)  Many people develop asthma as adults.  I was first diagnosed at 34.  It can develop after viral infections or from uncontrolled allergies as well as occupational irritants.
7)  The cats can trigger attacks and you are probably allergic to them.  I would recommend that you take antihistamines when you are going to be at her house.  Sinus rinses can also help to control your symptoms.
8)  It can get worse as you age.  The better you take care of yourself now, the less likely that is to happen.  I recommend that you stop smoking NOW!  Smoking will worsen your asthma.  It can also lead to all forms of COPD.  So, just because you don't have COPD now, doesn't mean you won't have a form of it in the future.
9)  Asthma will not go away if you quit smoking, but your symptoms will improve and be less frequent.  
10)  First, this is not the actual spirometry report.  This is an interpretation of your spirometry.  It says that your FEV1 is slightly low, but that could be normal for you.  FEV1 is a measure of how well your small airways are functioning.  Since your lung capacities are within normal limits, you really shouldn't worry about this.  Bronchodilaters increase your test results which is what gave you the asthma diagnosis instead of COPD.    
11)  Spirometry does not say anything about heart function.  It would be impossible to make any conclusion about that, but I seriously doubt that you have an issue there at your age.

Now that I think I have answered all your questions, I will answer a few you didn't ask out right.  It seems that you were a little concerned about your doctor not prescribing you any medications.  You should request a rescue inhaler.  People with even very mild asthma as you seem to have, can have serious attacks which can be fatal.  Anyone with an asthma diagnosis MUST have a rescue inhaler to carry on them AT ALL TIMES.  As far as other meds for it, they really aren't necessary for you.  People who have symptoms more than twice a week require more agressive treatment, but your are fine for now.  

That just about covers everything.
If you have more questions, feel free to ask.

Feelt better and take care of yourself.  For your future health, stop smoking and encourage those around you to quit also.
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