Asthma Tests
Asthma is one of the popularly known disease worldwide and many people are suffering from this disease. One of the best ways to find out if you have asthma is through Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT). This is a test, which measures how well your breathing passages can move air in and out. PFT is done by blowing forcefully into a mouthpiece that is connected to an electronic computer, which measures the air moving through the mouthpiece and will show whether your breathing is normal for your age and height or not. Generally, after completing the first PFT, a reversibility test is performed, which is done by inhaling a medication known as a bronchodilator (reliever), and 20 minutes later another PFT is performed to see if breathing improves. If breathing improves by at least 12%, this confirms a diagnosis of asthma. The results, which are coming out of these tests varies from patient to patient. For this reason and others, doctors may suggest another test called a Methacholine Challenge.
Methacholine Challenge Test: In this test the asthmatic patient will be asked to inhale increasing doses of Methacholine. Methacholine is a liquid medication that in an asthmatic patient only, will cause mild symptoms of asthma and also decreases the pulmonary function test measurements in the patient. If breathing worsens by at least 20 percent, this confirms a diagnosis of asthma. If breathing does not worsen, then the patient is considered to be non-asthmatic. This is a very safe and useful test to positively identify asthma in most cases.
Allergy Tests: Allergy is recognized, as a cause of asthma and the most important part of asthma management is the identification of a person's 'triggers' and the avoidance of those triggers. Sometimes a doctor may suggest that you undergo allergy tests to help identify exactly what your triggers are and the degree to which they affect you. This will help you to try and manage your asthma through the avoidance of the allergen, where practicable. This knowledge can help your doctor to tailor your asthma treatment and advise you of where and when you are likely to experience worsening asthma symptoms and what action you can take to minimize the severity.
Pulmonary Function Test: This test shows the severity of asthma. Clinical studies have shown that asthmatics often under-report their symptoms because they have become so used to difficult breathing. Therefore, asthmatics may not be receiving the proper amount of medication to totally control their asthma. The severity or even presence of asthma is sometimes difficult to establish because it is not always active at the time of the physician's exam. It is very critical for the health care provider to monitor pulmonary function tests to make sure the correct amount of medication is being taken so that permanent lung damage does not occur. All asthmatics should have to undergo this test yearly, routinely and more often if asthma is unstable.
Permanent Lung Damage: Swelling and inflammation of the lungs, if not controlled over time with medications will cause scarring in the lungs and make breathing more difficult and medications less effective. This has been shown to happen in even less than a year if asthma is not well treated.
One has to undergo the above-mentioned tests, to see whether he is suffering from asthma or not and also to overcome from this disease.