Useful Respiratory Tests
Diagnosis and Assessment
Vital signs: temperature, pulse rate and respiratory rate
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/vital-sig...
Respiratory rate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccKGzZXNKYs start 0.47 and https://www.mayoclinic.org/how-to-measure-respiratory-rate/art-20482580
Peak flow test https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/manage-your-asthma/peak-flow/
1 minute Sit to stand
(instructions composed from this reference and others http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/63/8/1040)
- Use an armless chair with a height of 46 cm; you can put it against a wall to stop it slipping.
- HCP needs a stopwatch used to measure the time and to count how many repetitions.
- Demonstrate first then ask the patient to do it as correctly as possible for as many times as they can manage in one minute.
- Put your hands on your hips or fold your arms across your chest to keep your arms still.
- When I say “Go!” stand up and without delay sit down again as many times as possible within 1 minute.
- Go at a speed which feels safe and manageable.
- Stand up so your knees are straight, and when you sit, they'll be bent at right angles.
- You may want to have your feet about 30 cm apart, and to push them back a little under your chair. Toes pointing forwards. Push down into your heels to stand up.
- You can rest if you need during the minute.
Measurements before and after - Heart rate, oxygen saturation (SpO2), blood pressure, and symptoms of breathlessness and fatigue (rated with the modified Borg scale)
Inhaler technique
https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/inhaler-videos/