Exercise-Induced Asthma (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Exercise-Induced Asthma Overview
- Exercise-Induced Asthma Causes
- Exercise-Induced Asthma Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Exercise-Induced Asthma Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Medications
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Support Groups and Counseling
- For More Information
- Web Links
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
Exams and Tests
If you are having an asthma attack, your health care provider (whether your primary care provider or an emergency department physician) will ask you questions about your symptoms, medical history, and medications. Answer as completely as you can. He or she will also examine you and observe you as you breathe.
He or she will assess the severity of the attack. Attacks are usually classified as mild, moderately severe, or severe. This assessment is based on several factors.
- Symptom severity and duration
- Degree of airway obstruction
- Extent to which the attack is interfering with regular activities
Measurements of how well you are breathing include the following:
- Spirometry: The spirometer is a device that measures how much air you can exhale and how forcefully you can breathe out. The test may be done before and after you inhale a medication. Spirometry is a good way to see how much your breathing is impaired during an attack. This test must be done in the medical office; you may exercise on a treadmill or stationary bicycle.
- Peak flow meter: This is another way of measuring how forcefully you can breathe out during an attack. This device is small and portable and can be used "in the field." This allows testing after 6-8 minutes of your usual activity.
- Oximetry: A painless probe, called a pulse oximeter, may be placed on your fingertip to measure the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream.
No blood test can pinpoint the cause of asthma.
- Your blood may be checked for signs of an infection that might be contributing to the symptoms.
- In severe attacks, it may be necessary to sample blood from an artery to determine exactly how much oxygen and carbon dioxide are present in your body.
Next: Exercise-Induced Asthma Treatment »
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