5 Signs You May Be Experiencing Symptoms of Asthma

With approximately 25 million people in the United States diagnosed with asthma, it is important to know what it is and what to look out for. It causes your lung’s airways to swell with inflammation making it difficult to breath. Some cases can be minor, and some can be life threatening if you do not know how to properly manage it. Unfortunately, there is no cure for it, but with the correctly prescribed medication and knowledge of management, you can keep it under control.

If you think you are experiencing symptoms of asthma, it is crucial you seek healthcare professionals to begin medical assessments and prescriptions. Here at Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group, our team of experts will help diagnose and begin treatment if you have suspicion of asthma. Call 805-658-9500 to speak to one of our professionals to book an appointment or visit our Contact Page to fill out a quick form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Continue reading below to learn more about the signs and symptoms of Asthma.

The symptoms to look for

There are different types of asthma so the symptoms will vary from person to person. Symptoms that occur can be from allergy related asthma, exercise-induced asthma, a cough-variant asthma, or an occupational asthma. The five symptoms you should look for the most is:

1. Chest tightness or pain
2. Consistent wheezing when exhaling
3. Shortness of breath
4. Coughing and wheezing that is worsened by a cold or flu
5. Trouble sleeping due to coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath

If you are consistently experiencing any of those symptoms, it is recommended to seek out a medical professional for a checkup.

How can we determine if you have asthma?

There are numerous tests we can conduct that will determine whether the symptoms you are experiencing is due to asthma. All these tests are quick and easy and can all be done at one of our locations.

FeNO test (Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide)

This simple two-minute test involves breathing down a tube attached to a computer that is monitoring the amount of nitric oxide in your breathing. When an individual’s lungs are inflamed, nitric oxide is produced. Typically, someone with asthma always has some level of inflammation in their lungs. Once the test is concluded, possible medication options will be discussed.

Spirometry test

This test is very easy to complete and understand the results. It’s simple, the individual will breathe into a mouthpiece and the spirometer will record the amount of air that enters and exits your lungs, as well as the speed at which it does so. This is one of the most common pulmonary function tests.

Allergen test

There are many allergies that could be causing these symptoms to arise. An allergen test can help identify allergic triggers that may be resulting in asthmatic reactions. Once identified, proper treatment will assist with calming those symptoms down.

Ready to breathe again?

If you suspect you have asthma, don’t hesitate, book an appointment today to begin your journey back to easy breathing. Call us at 805-658-9500 to work with one of our many asthma experts.