Feasibility test results of the Practical Approach to Lung Health in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Setting: Ambulatory health centres in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Objective: To assess the results of training family doctors in Practical Approach to Lung Health (PAL) techniques.

Design: Comparison of the results of two surveys, before (baseline) and after (impact) training on PAL guidelines.

[The rehabilitation under alpine conditions of the participants in the cleanup of the accident at the Chernobyl Atomic Electric Power Station who are ill with chronic bronchitis].

24 patients exposed to low-dose radiation after the Chernobyl accident were examined before and after 24-day treatment of chronic bronchitis in the high-altitude rehabilitation center (3200 m above the sea level) in Tien Shan. Sanogenic alpine climate improved the patients' general condition, physical performance and lung ventilation, corrected compromised immunity. After high-altitude adaptation tracheobronchial inflammation alleviated, cytologic composition and surface activity of bronchoalveolar fluid returned to normal.