Do you have difficulty breathing?
Asthma
& Copd Clinic

If you suffer from asthma, COPD or other breathing problems, we have a specialist clinic to treat your illness and assist you in feeling as well as possible. We also offer remote consultation via the app. Download Halsan's app and book an appointment.
Asthma
As a new patient at the clinic, you first meet an asthma nurse. After that you are given the opportunity to attend our asthma “school” where we support you in understanding and using your medication and inhaler. We also organise group meetings so that you can give your own tips to others as well as learn from others with the same condition. We are able to perform allergy tests and can identify and diagnose exercise-induced asthma.
Symptoms of asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the mucous membranes of the trachea, which makes the trachea extra sensitive. Difficulties in breathing can be triggered by, for example, cold air, strong smells, smoke, stress, physical exertion and infections in the trachea. Asthma usually develops during childhood, but it can also appear later on in life.
Asthma symptoms vary from person to person and you may have frequent or infrequent asthma attacks. Common symptoms are:
- Respiratory distress (difficult or laboured breathing).
- Shortness of breath and coughing during physical exertion.
- Wheezing and hissing sounds when inhaling.
- Recurring colds and coughs, or coughs that have no obvious explanation.


Treatment of asthma








The goal of asthma treatment is to address your symptoms and prevent the illness from affecting your quality of life. Your lungs should be able to function properly without the need of bronchodilators and the medication should not give you any side effects.
In order to cope with your asthma, it’s important to understand the goal of the treatment and how the medications work. Symptoms can vary over time, so it is advisable to do regular checkups and ensure you have the correct dosage of medicine.
Two types of asthma








Asthma can be divided into two types : extrinsic and intrinsic, also referred to as allergic and non-allergic asthma. Non-allergic asthma is the most common type found in adults, whilst allergic asthma is most usual in children. If you suffer from allergic asthma, your symptoms will be triggered when you have been incontact with an allergen like, for example, pollen, mites or fur-bearing animals.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd)
COPD is a disease that affects the lungs and airways. COPD develops slowly over several years and is mainly caused by smoking. With treatment, the ailments usually diminish.
Symptoms of copd








COPD is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe or cough effectively. The illness is caused by smoking and therefore the only thing that can prevent its development is to stop smoking.
If you need help to stop smoking we offer counseling and coaching. Quitting smoking improves your health in many ways even if you do not have COPD.


Diagnosing breathing disorders
If you’re having difficulty breathing, make an appointment with us to get help and advice. Should you need further tests, you will be referred to a doctor. We perform physical examinations and lung function checks, either by spirometry or a so-called PEF (peak expiratory flow) test. Read more below.
Pef rate test








The peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) test is commonly performed at home. You borrow a handheld device (called a peak flow monitor) and over a period of 2 weeks you test your exhalation speed regularly. By blowing into the tube of the monitor, the device is able to record the air speed from your lungs. If your airways are constricted, the air flow decreases and the PEF values are lower.
Spirometry at the health centre








We also do spirometry tests to see how well your lungs are functioning and to test your lung capacity. Spirometry is a test that measures how well your lungs work and their so-called ventilation capacity. The test requires you to breathe into a tube attached to a machine called a spirometer. It measures how much air you breathe out and thereby how much air your lungs are able to hold. The test takes less than an hour.
Other tests








Both spirometry and PEF rate tests are done when diagnosing respiratory ailments. Other types of tests that can be done are :
- Reversibility test - to see if the trachea dilates with medication.
- Treatment trial - a test with cortisone to see if the lungs function better.
- Exertion test - to test the function of the lungs during physical exertion.
- Test of the sensitivity of the trachea - measures how sensitive the mucous membranes are with the help of a substance that causes the trachea to contract.
- NO (nitric oxide) measurement - measures the amount of nitric oxide in your exhaled air.
- Allergy test - often skin prick test or blood test to see if breathing difficulties are due to an allergy.