Your Asthma Diagnosis
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) calls asthma one of the most underdiagnosed and undertreated health problems. Why? It’s a complex disease, and no simple blood test or x-ray can conclusively say that you have asthma. In their 1997 Expert Panel Report 2, the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP, a project of the NIH) identified these three key components of an asthma diagnosis: a detailed medical history, a physical examination, and a spirometry test.
The physical exam and spirometry test help your physician rule out other problems. They also provide clinical support for the symptoms you may have noticed. When constructing your medical history with your doctor, give complete, thoughtful answers to any questions. If you haven’t yet seen a doctor, start thinking about the things that seem to cause your symptoms. Jot down notes along the way and bring those notes with you to the doctor. Only you can provide the real-life details your doctor needs in order to make the right diagnosis.
1. Medical history.
The quality of the information you provide when your medical history is taken can have tremendous impact on the appropriateness of the care you receive. Before seeing your doctor, spend some time thinking about the following points:
- What symptoms you’ve experienced
- When and how often symptoms occur
- Whether you’ve been exposed to irritants and allergens
- When you first noticed symptoms and how you’ve treated them in the past
- Whether close relatives have been diagnosed with asthma, allergy, or related disorders
- Details about the environment of your house and place of work
- Early symptoms of a typical episode
- How your symptoms affect your life and family
- How much you already know about asthma
2. Physical examination.
Your doctor will perform a physical examination that focuses on your upper respiratory tract, chest, and skin.
3. Spirometry test.
This type of testing shows the maximum volume of air you can exhale, measuring your lung capacity. You may repeat the test after inhaling a bronchodilator (a medication that opens airways when asthma is present). The difference between the two readings shows your doctor how your body reacts to the medication.
In some cases, your spirometry tests may be normal, but your medical history and physical exam show that asthma may be present. Your health care provider may then want to do further tests. This may include daily or weekly at-home monitoring of your peak flow (the maximum volume of air you can exhale), or more in-office testing.
Left undiagnosed and untreated, asthma can be a life-threatening disease. But when treated, people with asthma can live normal, healthy lives. If you believe you have asthma symptoms but you’ve never been diagnosed, call your health care provider. The first step toward breathing better is yours.
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