Spirometry in asthma.

Some 20 and more years ago, simple tests of pulmonary function revealed obstructive abnormalities in many asthmatic patients who were regarded as "well" by their physicians. "Asthma" was wheezing and dyspnea. Dyspnea is subjective and difficult to assess, but wheezing could be heard, and when this ceased or markedly lessened, perhaps after hectic days of intensive bronchodilator therapy, the patient was declared asthma-free. The physician was also confident that he could assess the intensity of asthma (read, degree of obstructive abnormality) by auscultation. However, we now know that the intensity of auscultatory signs may not match the magnitude of the . . .