Effects of Expiratory Resistance Training using Spirometer in Improving Pulmonary Functions among Chronic Bronchitis Patients

Abstract

Achieving and maintaining health is an ongoing process, shaped by both the evolution of health care knowledge and practices as well as personal strategies and organized interventions for staying healthy. Public health has been described as "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals." It is concerned with threats to the overall health of a community based on population health analysis. Public health includes the interdisciplinary categories of epidemiology, biostatistics and health HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_services"services. Healthy lungs functions less with increasing age. The lung capacities and volumes gradually decline during a person’s life time. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the commonest of respiratory diseases. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is defined by the guidelines of Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) as a chronic disease characterized by airway/alveolar/systemic inflammation with measured air flow obstruction that is partially reversible with bronchodialator therapy. COPD includes two main components which are chronic bronchitis (a partially reversible component) and Emphysema with fibrosis (an irreversible component). Spirometry is a painless study of air volume and flow rate within the lungs and spirometer is the device that is used to make the measurements.  It is frequently used to evaluate lung function people with obstructive or restrictive lung diseases.  Spirometry measures the amount (volume) and or speed (flow) of air that can be inhaled or exhaled.  The most common measurements used are – FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC ratio and the reading usually shows either normal/obstructive/restrictive or a combined obstructive – restrictive pattern.  In obstructive pattern FEV1 is reduced and the FEV1 / FVC ratio is lower than normal.  Spirometry can also be used for administering resistance on expiration were resistance varies depending on the movement in the column or flutter device. A resistance on expiration can be administered by an oscillation as in the spirometer technique were the resistance varies depending on the movement in the column or in the flutter device or by other mechanical Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) devices such as PEP/RMT set.  The PEP technique is often used to improve ventilation and gaseous exchange to preserve pulmonary function