Most people with asthma often with cough and tightness in the GP. This can make the diagnosis and, if necessary, refer to the pulmonologist.
The doctor examines how your breath goes, by listening to the lungs with a stethoscope. He will also ask about allergy symptoms, your lifestyle, overall health or respiratory problems are present in the family. Does the doctor that you have asthma, he may refer you to a lung function test. On the basis of various investigations, eventually the GP (and sometimes the pulmonologist) diagnosis.
Lung Function Test
A lung function test can assist in diagnosing asthma. The pulmonary function test is a kind of bladder test, which is called in jargon spirometry. With this test, the doctor can get a good picture of the health of your lungs and how well they function. The examination is painless, but can be strenuous. The pulmonary function test is carried out in general practice, in a special laboratory or hospital. The doctor or hospital will tell you how you can prepare for the examination.
Provocation Test
In a challenge test examines the lung assistant how sensitive your lungs react to a particular substance. Usually that histamine. Histamine is released into the body when you come into contact with stimuli which you can not take it. In asthma, the lungs also hypersensitive to histamine itself. The histamine provocation test can therefore help in diagnosing asthma. In this study still inhale small amounts of histamine, until your lungs react to this. You can during this research are so stuffy. The trouble is quick to fight with a bronchodilator drug. Today the challenge is also performed with the substance methacholine, which has the same effect as histamine.
NO measurement
In some cases you may be referred to the hospital for NO measurement. This study is an experiment, to find out whether it helps to establish or exclude the diagnosis of asthma. The NO measurement is a kind of exhalation test, the doctor measures how much nitrogen in your breathing is. It may distract the physician or inflammation in your lungs and you therefore have asthma. Also, with this test to estimate how severe the asthma is and how much medication you may need. A NO measurement is just like the other tests completely painless.
Asthma pocket
Especially for people who have just been diagnosed with asthma, the Asthma pocket developed a handy booklet with information, tips and fun facts about asthma.
