Your respiratory rate is the no. of breaths you take per minute.
How to measure- Sit down and try to relax.
- It's best to take your respiratory rate while sitting up in a chair or in bed.
- Measure your breathing rate by counting the number of times your chest or abdomen rises over the course of one minute.
- Record this number.
Maximum amount of air a person can exhaled from the lungs after a maximum inhalation.
Procedure : VITAL CAPACITY- Blow up the balloon few times to stretch it.
- Take as deep a breath as possible: exhale as much air as possible into the balloon; pinch the balloon closed to prevent air from escaping.
- Measure and record the circumference of the balloon.
- Repeat this procedure four more times; record each circumference.
- Calculate and record the average.
Do you want to know the health of your internal organs – Right Here, Right Now
Measures Maximum Breathing Capacity.
How to measureShould take 6 attempts. Ask to blow a match stick / candle flame from a distance of 6� (15 cms) with
- Mouth wide open
- No air movement in the room
- Mouth and match stick at the same level
- Chin rested/supported
- No pursed lips
- No head movement
Single breath count test is a good measurement of respiratory function.
Procedure :- Take a small, silent breath in and a small, silent breath out.
- Hold your nose with your fingers to prevent air from entering your lungs.
- Count how many seconds until you feel the first signs of air hunger.
- Repeat 5 times and take average reading
Quick Tests which you can do on your own. . . . At your HOME
Resting Heart rate is the speed of the heartbeat per minute when the heart is at rest, i.e. stable.
How to measure- Place your index & third fingers on your neck to the side of your windpipe.
- When you feel your pulse, count the number of beats in 15 seconds.
- Multiply this number by four to calculate your beats per minute.
- Take 4 readings - When you wake up, noon, evening, before sleep and take average reading
Stair Test Performance May Predict Risk of Heart Disease, cancer
Procedure :- Climbing Stair test can be done in a building with minimum 5 to 7 floors
- Normalize your breath before you start climbing the stairs
- Note the time & start climbing stairs, note the floor & time you are completely exhausted.
- After your breath normalizes, repeat 3 times and take average reading
Simple Methods - No fancy gadgets or mind bending jargons
Nail clubbing : Result of low oxygen in blood / lung disease. May also mean inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease or liver disease .
Spoon nails: Sign of iron deficiency anemia or a liver condition, heart disease or hypothyroidism.
Beau's lines: indentations that run across the nails. Indicates diabetes / peripheral vascular disease, acute kidney disease or zinc deficiency.
Terry's nails: White nails with narrow pink band at the tip. Sign of liver disease, congestive heart failure, kidney failure or diabetes
White streaks/spots: Distinct white streaks and spots on nails can point to chronic kidney disease.
