- What to tell the doctor in the evaluation
- When to get tested for asthma
- Other tests that can be used
- Criteria for the diagnosis of asthma
- What to do after the diagnosis is confirmed
- How asthma severity is assessed
The diagnosis of asthma can usually only be made through clinical evaluation performed by a pulmonologist or immunoallergologist, for example, since the symptoms presented, the family history and the presence of allergies can be sufficient to confirm asthma.
The most classic symptoms that usually lead a doctor to suspect asthma include:
- Intense coughing; Wheezing when breathing; Feeling of shortness of breath; Feeling of "tightness in the chest"; Difficulty filling the lungs with air.
Asthma attacks tend to be more frequent at night and can even cause a person to wake up from sleep. However, they can also happen at any other time of the day, depending on the triggering factor.
In addition, if the person has an asthma attack at the time of the evaluation, the doctor can also evaluate other physical factors, such as using the rib muscles to help with breathing or auscultating the functioning of the lungs, for example.
See what other symptoms may indicate an asthma case.
What to tell the doctor in the evaluation
Some information that can help the doctor to reach the diagnosis more quickly, in addition to the symptoms, include the duration of the crises, the frequency, intensity, what was being done at the time when the first symptoms appeared, if there are other people in the family with asthma and if there is an improvement in symptoms after taking some type of treatment.
When to get tested for asthma
Although the symptoms are very important to make the doctor suspicious of asthma, there is also an exam that must be done in all cases and that generally confirms the diagnosis: spirometry.
This test helps to identify the presence of narrowing of the bronchi, which is common in asthma, by assessing the amount of air that can be exhaled after taking a deep breath and how quickly the air is expelled out. Usually, the results of this examination indicate a decrease in FEV, FEP values and in the FEV / FVC ratio.
Learn more about how Spirometry is done and when it is indicated.
Other tests that can be used
After making the clinical evaluation and spirometry, the doctor may also resort to other tests, such as:
- X-ray of the chest; Blood tests; Computed tomography.
These exams are not always used, as they serve especially to screen for other lung problems, such as pneumonia or pneumothorax, for example.
Criteria for the diagnosis of asthma
To make the diagnosis of asthma, the doctor generally relies on the following parameters:
- Presentation of one or more asthma symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing for more than 3 months, wheezing when breathing, tightness or chest pain, especially at night or in the early hours of the morning; Positive results on tests to diagnose asthma; Improvement symptoms after using asthma drugs such as bronchodilators or anti-inflammatories, for example; Presence of 3 or more episodes of wheezing when breathing in the last 12 months; Family history of asthma; Exclusion of other diseases such as sleep apnea, bronchiolitis or heart failure, for example.
After the doctor diagnoses asthma using these parameters, he determines the severity and type of asthma, evaluates the best treatment and controls the patient regularly, adjusting the treatment, so that the asthma is controlled.
What to do after the diagnosis is confirmed
After confirming the diagnosis and before recommending treatment, the doctor needs to identify the severity of the symptoms and understand some of the factors that appear to lead to the onset of the symptoms. In this way, it is possible to better adapt the doses of medicines and even the type of medicines used.
Factors that normally contribute to an asthma attack include respiratory infections, climate changes, dust, mold, some tissues or the use of medications. During the treatment it is important to avoid the factors identified to avoid the appearance of new crises and even decrease the intensity of symptoms when they appear.
Although some triggering factors can be identified at the time of diagnosis, others can be identified over the years, it is always important to inform the doctor.
See a more complete list of causes that can trigger an asthma attack.
How asthma severity is assessed
The severity of asthma can be classified according to the following table:
| Light | Moderate | Serious | |
| Symptoms | Weekly | Daily | Daily or continuous |
| Waking up at night | Monthly | Weekly | Almost daily |
| Need to use a bronchodilator | Eventual | Daily | Daily |
| Activity limitation | In crises | In crises | To be continued |
| Crises | Affect activities and sleep |
Affect activities and sleep |
Frequent |
According to the severity of asthma, the doctor guides the appropriate treatment that usually involves the use of asthma remedies such as anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator remedies. Learn more about asthma treatment.
