Asthma Diagnosis: Connecting the Dots

Key Information

No Single Test: Asthma diagnosis is not based on one simple test.
Building the Picture: It is about “connecting the dots” to understand your breathing.
Your Story Matters Most: Your symptoms and experiences are the most important part of the diagnosis.

Step 1: Your Story (The Most Important Dots)

The process starts with understanding your experience. To build the picture, we will ask about:

Symptoms: What do you feel? (e.g. coughing, wheezing, breathlessness)
Timing: When do symptoms occur? Do they worsen at night or early morning?
Triggers: Do symptoms flare after exercise or exposure to cold air, pets, or allergens?
History: Do you have allergies (such as hay fever) or a family history of asthma?

Step 2: The Tests (Adding to the Picture)

We may use simple breathing tests to measure how well your lungs are working.

1. Spirometry:
The Action: You take a deep breath and blow out as hard and fast as possible into a machine.
The Reversibility Check: We may repeat the test after using a reliever inhaler to see if your airways improve.
2. FeNO Test:
The Action: You breathe out steadily into a machine.
The Purpose: It measures inflammation in your lungs.

Putting It All Together

We combine your symptoms, history, and test results to build a complete picture. If everything aligns, we can confirm the diagnosis and begin treatment.