Diagnosing Asthma

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history and perform a physical exam:

Tests may include:

• Peak flow examination-blowing quickly and forcefully into a special instrument that measures your output of air
• Pulmonary function tests (PFTs)-breathing into a machine that records information about the function of your lungs
• Bronchoprovocation tests-lung function tests performed after exposure to methacholine, histamine, or cold or dry air to stimulate asthma; can help to confirm asthma in unclear cases
• Exhaled nitric oxide (a marker of airway inflammation)-to suggest the diagnosis and manage medications
• Allergy tests -usually skin or sometimes blood tests to find out if allergies may be contributing to the symptoms