Asthma Test

How does this asthma test work?

This is a quick self asthma assessment that can show you whether the signs you are experiencing are consistent with this respiratory condition and whether you should take action on this. There are 3 sections totaling 10 questions where you need to chose the most applicable answer and one question where you need to check how many triggers exacerbate your symptoms. Once you complete the asthma test you will receive a personalized result revealing whether you might have reasons to worry about suffering from asthma and as well some indications in regard to your answers.

What is asthma and what causes it?

This is a medical condition affecting the bronchioles of the lungs, airways that get narrower at times. Airways tighten and can get inflamed or fill in with mucus caused by the lining. It is said to be quite a spread affection with 1 in 10 children suffering temporary attacks and 1 in 20 adults suffering from long term conditions. The cause is pin pointed to the inflammation of the air tubes but at the same time the real reason behind this inflammation is yet to be discovered.

Asthma symptoms

There are typical signs that indicate the existence of this condition that include wheezing, cough, chest tightness and shortness of breath. These range from mild to severe and can vary in intensity with episodes lasting for a few moments, an hour or persisting for days or weeks. These symptoms are also exacerbated by an underlying infections such as a cold or chest infection and of course by allergies during the hay fever season. Here are some of the usual symptoms explained:

■ Wheezing – whistling sound when breathing

■ Shortness of breath – feeling as if it is harder to breath

■ Tight chest – feeling the chest constricted

■ Frequent cough episodes– exacerbated during night

■ Loosing breath - easily during exercise

■ Feeling extremely tired

■ Symptoms similar to cold or allergies (sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion)

■ Headaches

Recognizing a severe asthma attack?

These are episodes in which typical symptoms worsen and usually develop in a series of days before reaching a peak, while there are also sudden unexpected episodes. While wheezing, coughing or chest tightness worsen, the shortness of breath exacerbates and these are often met with a rapid heart beat, paleness, sweat, tightened muscles and feeling drowsy, dizzy or even prone to fainting while the lips and fingers start turning blue because of oxygen deprivation.

What worsens asthma symptoms?

What you need to know is while you can peacefully live with the usual symptoms showing up from time to time, there are certain things you can do to avoid any flare ups. Here are some of the most common triggers you need to look out for:

Respiratory infections – watch out for untreated colds or chest infections

Pollen and flowers – remember hay fever season

Mould, house dust and other build ups – make sure your room is refreshed, clean and the walls can breathe as well

Smoking – is there any explanation needed!?

Chemicals – don’t get too much exposure, even to household items

Clothing, pillows, beds – watch out for fibers, feathers and similar

Food allergies – avoid them for all reasons

Medicine – make sure those don’t interfere

Animals – control any allergies to animals

Exercise – avoid strenuous exercise

How is asthma diagnosed?

While the symptoms discussed above are quite typical and things can prove to be even more clear in the case of severe attacks, there are also tests to be arranged.

Spirometry – measures how much air can be forced out during expiration in one second – equivalent to FEV1.

Peak flow meter assessment – this is a test that measures the speed of the air blown out of the lungs and can provide a descriptor of the degree of narrowing of the airways.

References

1) Lemanske RF Jr, Busse WW. (2010) Asthma: clinical expression and molecular mechanisms. J Allergy Clin Immunol; 125(2 Suppl 2):S95-102.

2)  WHO (2011) World Health Organization Fact Sheet Fact sheet No 307: Asthma