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Asthma is not a benign illness. In the event of an attack or should the symptoms characteristic of asthma arise, it is important to see a doctor.
Most of them have a simple diagnostic tool: peak expiratory flow. This instrument allows an initial estimation of respiratory function to be made based on the peak expiratory flow rate. In any case, this testing (and not diagnostic) exercise remains extremely rare and more than a million people with asthma do not know they have it.
THE DIAGNOSIS OF ASTHMA IS BASED ON A CLINICAL EXAMINATION
The diagnosis of asthma is based on a clinical examination by a doctor and the respiratory function tests that allow the presence of the illness to be confirmed.
The respiratory function tests consist of two exams:
- Spirometry: this includes the measurement of the flow of inspiration and expiration and the exam that tests for bronchial obstruction. The illness is monitored by a single spirometry;
- Plethysmograph: this measures the flow and volume of inspiration and expiration. Allergy skin tests allow possible allergic factors in the origin of the illness to be identified.
Allergy skin tests allow possible allergic factors in the origin of the illness to be identified.
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Last updated: 11/03/2017
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