How Do I Know If I've Got Asthma?

The cause of asthma is unknown, but it usually results from a strong immune system response to a substance in the lungs.

Triggers for asthma symptoms may include: 

• Allergies (such as pollen, ragweed, dust mites, mold, or animal dander)
• Irritants in the air (such as smoke, strong odors, chemical fumes) 
• Exercise
• Illness, particularly respiratory illness or the flu 
• Stress
• Extreme weather conditions
• Cold air
• Panic 
• Strong emotions that can affect normal breathing patterns, such as laughing, crying, or shouting
• Certain medications
• Some foods

Asthma is diagnosed with a patient history and a physical exam, which includes the doctor listening to a patient’s breathing and checking for allergic skin conditions. 

Tests used to help diagnose asthma or rule out other causes for symptoms include: 

• Pulmonary function tests
  • Spirometry    
  • Bronchoprovocation tests    
  • Peak expiratory flow (PEF)    
  • Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) tests    
  • Provocation (trigger) tests
    • Exercise challenge
    • Irritant challenge
    • Methacholine challenge
• Allergy skin or blood tests, in patients who have a history of allergies

Asthma is usually treated with quick-relief and long-term control medicines. Allergy shots (immunotherapy) may also be helpful.

Quick-relief medications are bronchodilators that expand the airways, and are taken at the first sign of asthma symptoms for immediate relief:

• Short-acting inhaled beta2-agonists (inhalers)
• Anticholinergics

Long-term asthma control medications are taken daily to prevent symptoms and asthma attacks and include:

• Inhaled corticosteroids 
• Antileukotrienes or leukotriene modifiers 
• Long-acting inhaled beta2-agonists (usually combined with an inhaled corticosteroid)

In severe cases, when traditional treatments do not work well enough other therapies may be used, such as:

• Biologics
• Oral corticosteroids
• Immunotherapy, useful when asthma is triggered by an allergy