Understanding Asthma: Tests, Symptoms & Diagnosis

Asthma is a chronic condition in which the airways become blocked or narrowed, which leads to difficulty breathing. There are several diagnostic tests used to identify asthma.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of asthma include episodes of breathlessness, wheezing, coughing and chest tightness.

Spirometry

• Spirometry tests involve breathing into a mouthpiece that records the amount of air you can exhale. This measures your ability to push air out of your lungs.

Peak Airflow

• Peak airflow tests involve breathing into a small, hand-held apparatus that measures how much air you can push out of your lungs.

Trigger Tests

• During a trigger test, your doctor will expose you to small amounts of known asthma triggers to see if you have a reaction.

Other Tests

• Your doctor may perform other tests, including X-rays and sputum induction, to rule out other lung conditions.