Ask a doctor on the topic of Internal medicine

Restrictive ventilation disorder

June 20, 2021 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

In 2019, intrinsic asthma was diagnosed in me after I reacted to the demolition of the church next door with dry cough and then worsening breathing problems (the year before, I may have had a lingering bronchitis as well). The lung function test showed moderate obstruction (without reversibility) and I was prescribed Budesonide and later added Formoterol (and Salbutamol as emergency spray).
Today, my values are great again and I am doing quite well. Light exercise like cycling or inline skating is no problem. However, proper sports are not as easily possible as before, and somehow the emergency spray only helps to a certain extent. Additionally, I still often feel pressure on my chest or slight pain, especially after exertion. My values, though, are excellent.

The only thing that suddenly appeared on the report of my recent examination was a slight restriction, and I am somewhat puzzled by that - is it just a measurement error? My doctor did not mention it.
RV 48% (2019 107%)
TLC 72% (2019 92%)
TGV 70% (2019 97%)
IVC 79% (2019 VCin 80%)
Where could this difference come from?

Dr. med. Frauke Gehring

Good morning,

A restrictive disorder means that one does not inhale sufficiently and has nothing to do with asthma. In asthma, the air does not come out.

The question is whether there is also a chronic bronchitis present, because in asthma the obstruction is reversible and the emergency inhaler helps. In COPD, the bronchial tubes are blocked.

I would therefore recommend speaking to your primary care physician again, to consider getting a chest x-ray to find the cause of the restriction.

Best regards, Dr. Gehring