Diagnosis of Asthma

Though asthma symptoms can be very indicative yet it should be confirmed only after proper diagnosis by a qualified doctor or medical practitioner. Diagnosis of asthma may, a lot depend upon the symptoms experienced by the patient like wheezing, cough and even the asthma attack, and suspect factors that cause the same. These factors may be the environment and surroundings where the patient lives, over-exertion by the patient and emotional disturbance. With the aid of patient’s physical examination and lab test reports, doctor confirms the diagnosis. Only after diagnosis, can the doctor starts with the right treatment that can really be effective and helpful for the patient.

Diagnosis of asthma is done by tests like spirometry, peak flow monitoring, bronchial provocation and some more tests like x-ray of the chest and to detect sinusitis, allergy examination, and the test for evaluating gastroesophagus reflux disease. Spirometry is the test that finds out the volume of air that enters the lungs and leaves the same. It is done by a medical device named as spirometer. These reports may vary from person to person. In some cases, the reports of a chronic patient may show normal results. So, for such patients another technique can be used, which is known to monitor peak expiratory flow rate. This is done by a handy device named as peak flow meter.

At times, both spirometry and peak flow monitoring fail to show results. So, another method known as bronchial provocation, also known as bronchoprovocation is used for the diagnosis of asthma. During this test, the patient is asked to inhale chemicals like histamine and methacholine that act as triggering agents for hyperresponsive reaction. Another method which is most commonly in use is the exercise test. The patient is told to perform a particular exercise for a stipulated time and when the symptoms show, they are observed. All these diagnostic methods though, can be very exhausting yet they are worth trying as diagnosis of any disease is very essential and, type and degree of the treatment largely depends upon it.