1. Asthma Symptoms Aren't Enough for a Diagnosis
Asthma is often characterized by a recurrent wheezing and coughing combined with a shortness of breath and a tightness in the chest. If you have these symptoms and they get worse at night or are triggered by exercise, allergens or exposure to cold air, then it's very likely that you have asthma. However, just because you may have these symptoms, doesn't mean that a doctor can automatically diagnose you with this chronic disease affecting the airways. Your doctor will need to do a more thorough examination and even some tests.
2. What to Expect During the Diagnosis Exam
Doctors use a physical exam for an asthma diagnosis, which includes a thorough examination of the upper respiratory tract. Your doctor will examine your chest and skin, and even the inside of your nose. He will check out the lining on the inside of your nose and determine how much mucus your nose creates, and if the amount falls into the normal parameters of what's normal for nasal secretions. Your doctor may also look for nasal polyps which are soft non-cancerous growths in your sinuses or the lining of your nose.
3. Confirm With Lung Tests
After symptoms are discussed and a physical is completed, including a discussion of any family asthma or allergy history, your doctor can usually provide an asthma diagnosis. However, this diagnosis should be confirmed with a lung test. This non-invasive test measures how well you breathe by having you take deep breaths and forcefully releasing that inhaled air into a hose connected to a spirometer. This machine measures forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume (FEV-1). FVC is the amount of air you can breathe in and out and FEV-1 is the total amount of air you are able to breathe out in 1 second. During the test, triggers like exercise, cold air or air with allergens may be introduced.
4. Asthma Diagnosis in Young Children
Young children, those under 5, are usually only diagnosed with asthma based on symptoms and signs, a physical examination and a medical history. Children this young are rarely given the more conclusive lung tests because their ability to follow instructions is limited.
5. Ruling Out Other Illnesses
Signs and symptoms of asthma can be an indicator of another illness such as an airway tumor, pneumonia, a blood clot in the lung, bronchitis, vocal cord dysfunction, a viral respiratory tract infections or even congestive heart failure. If your doctor suspects that this is the case, she will conduct other tests to rule out these other illnesses. Tests include a complete blood count, a computerized scan of the lungs, chest and sinus x-rays, a test of the phlegm coughed up from your lungs (sputum induction) or a test of your acid reflux.
