Asthma diagnosis typically involves a combination of medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests.
Key points:
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Medical History: A provider gathers information about your symptoms and factors that affect your breathing difficulties.
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Physical Examination: A provider assesses your lung function, and looks for signs of asthma, such as wheezing.
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Rule Outs: A provider rules out other conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, or cardiac conditions that affect breathing.
Diagnostic tests:
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Spirometry: You will take a deep breath and then blow forcefully into a tube. This measures how much air you can exhale and how quickly you can do it.
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Peak Flow Measurement: This portable device measures how fast you can exhale.
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Bronchoprovocation testing: This test involves inhaling a substance that can trigger bronchoconstriction, which is a hallmark of asthma.
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Positive response to medication: If you use a bronchodilator and you improve, this suggests that you may have asthma. This is often referred to as a "reversible" or "treatable" airway obstruction.
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Allergy testing: Allergy skin testing or blood tests may be conducted to determine if allergens are contributing to your symptoms.