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Asthma
The Causes and Risks of
Asthma
Diagnosing Asthma
Complications of Asthma
Treatment of Asthma
Prevention of Asthma
Diagnosing Asthma
If you experience wheezing, difficulty breathing, pain or
tightening in your chest or coughing without any other flu
symptoms, talk to your doctor about asthma. If your child
wheezes, has spasmodic coughs that are worse in the night or
coughs that last more than a few days, talk to your doctor.
Diagnosing asthma can be tricky
Because the symptoms of asthma are similar to any number of
lung conditions and can vary from mild to severe, diagnosing
asthma can be difficult.
Vocal Cord Dysfunction (episodic laryngeal dysfunction) is
often confused with asthma. This condition usually affects
women between ages 20-40 and includes symptoms similar to
asthma. As well, emphysema and congestive heart failure cause
symptoms like those caused by asthma. For these reasons,
several different diagnostic procedures will likely be used to
screen and diagnose asthma.
Diagnosing asthma begins with a physical exam, coupled with an
complete medical history evaluation. Often, pulmonary function
tests will follow, testing the amount of air that moves in and
out with each breathe. A common lung function test is called a
peak flow meter, which measures the rate at which you expel
breathe. This test can be used at home to help patients detect
airway obstructions before the onset of an asthma attack.
Often, lung function tests will be carried out after taking
medications used to open the airways, known as
bronchodilators. If these medications cause your lung
functioning to improve, a diagnosis of asthma is likely.
The
American
Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology provides
outstanding resources for those suffering from asthma and it's
complications. For parents of asthmatic children,
the Allergy &
Asthmatic Network Mothers of Asthmatics offers excellent
information for both parents and children. |
