There are several key tests used by allergists to diagnose asthma and determine a patient’s allergic triggers. Asthma Testing in Columbus MS is the only way to find out if a child has asthma, and it is the first step toward managing his or her condition. Read on to find out about some of the most common forms of asthma testing.
Lung Function Tests
There are two types of lung function tests commonly used to diagnose asthma. These are spirometry and methacholine challenge testing. Spirometry measures how much air a patient can blow out of his or her lungs, and how fast, and is used to determine how much the airway is obstructed.
A methacholine challenge test may be required if the symptoms and spirometry test are not conclusive. However, patients who manifest obvious symptoms often do not require this kind of test.
Chest X-Rays
Chest X-rays are used to diagnose a variety of conditions and are often used to rule out other potential causes of asthma symptoms. They allow doctors to see the inside of their patients’ chests to make sure that there are no other factors causing the obstruction of their airways.
Sinus Evaluation
Sinusitis and the presence of nasal polyps can both make asthma more difficult to control. If a doctor suspects that a sinus infection may be causing some of the patient’s symptoms, he or she can order a CT scan to rule out this possibility.
Judging the Severity of Symptoms
Based on the results of Asthma Testing in Columbus MS, a doctor can determine the severity of a patient’s asthma. There are four types of asthma, classified by their severity. Mild intermittent asthma involves only infrequent asthma attacks and symptoms that occur less than twice a week.
Mild persistent asthma describes the condition of a patient who experiences symptoms more than twice a week, but less than once a day. Moderate persistent asthma involves daily symptoms and nighttime symptoms that come up twice a week or more. Patients with mild and moderate persistent asthma sometimes find that their asthma attacks affect their daily activity.
Severe persistent asthma involves continual symptoms that limit the patient’s activity and frequent asthma attacks. Without treatment, this severe form of the disease can be quite dangerous. Visit our website for more information.
