The diagnosis of asthma
Because there are so many different stimuli and because the treatment depends on the incentives for which a patient is sensitive, the doctor together with you to look into the complaints. The doctor will first ask some questions, then do a physical examination, and finally a reversibility test with you.
If the doctor can find no obvious cause, he may refer you to a pulmonologist. ask
The doctor will ask you questions regarding
- Your smoking behavior
- The smoking behavior of your environment
- In children the smoking behavior of the mother during pregnancy
- The type of complaints
- Other allergic symptoms such as hay fever or eczema
- Conditions and incentives which can be stuffy
- Conditions and incentives which can be stuffy
- The course and severity of symptoms
- The prevalence of asthma and allergy in the family
- Dealing with pets
- Sport
- Work or school as a result of the complaints
- Dealing with pets
- Sport
- Work or school as a result of the complaints
Physical examination
On physical examination, the doctor will mainly look at the nose, mouth and throat, the abdomen, the skin and the chest. The movements of respiration will be investigated by listening (with a stethoscope) to the heart and lungs. Height, weight and general condition will be reviewed by the physician, especially this is important in children.
reversibility
To investigate whether the narrowing of the airways with medications is to lift the physician performs the reversibility of (= reversible reversible).
The patient should exhale as forcefully as possible by a peak flow meter. The more air that is exhaled at the same time, the higher the maximum value of the peak current. Then the patient should inhale drugs that widen the airways (the narrowing reduce or even eliminate). Subsequently, the patient again as powerful as possible by the peak flow exhalation.
If the value of the second time is significantly higher, then it means that this narrowing of the airways and demonstrated by the drugs were broadened. The drugs work so.reference pulmonologist
If the treatment does not work or if the GP further investigation is necessary, he will refer you to a pulmonologist. This then makes further research.
Several studies are possible:
On physical examination, the doctor will mainly look at the nose, mouth and throat, the abdomen, the skin and the chest. The movements of respiration will be investigated by listening (with a stethoscope) to the heart and lungs. Height, weight and general condition will be reviewed by the physician, especially this is important in children.
reversibility
To investigate whether the narrowing of the airways with medications is to lift the physician performs the reversibility of (= reversible reversible).
The patient should exhale as forcefully as possible by a peak flow meter. The more air that is exhaled at the same time, the higher the maximum value of the peak current. Then the patient should inhale drugs that widen the airways (the narrowing reduce or even eliminate). Subsequently, the patient again as powerful as possible by the peak flow exhalation.
If the value of the second time is significantly higher, then it means that this narrowing of the airways and demonstrated by the drugs were broadened. The drugs work so.reference pulmonologist
If the treatment does not work or if the GP further investigation is necessary, he will refer you to a pulmonologist. This then makes further research.
Several studies are possible:
- Measuring or lungs good or bad works, this is called the breathalyzer called.
- Hypersensitivity to stimuli examined by the incentives to call and see how the patient respond.
- Measuring the effect of exercise on breathing and airway, the lung is hereby before, during and after exercise measured.
- Making radiographs to lungs, heart and chest cavity to view.
