Ep. 7: Asthma Part 1 - What is asthma & how is asthma diagnosed?
How is asthma diagnosed?
Similar to many atopic diseases, asthma is not black and white. When it comes to diagnosing asthma, there are many factors including history, allergies, biology, and tests that are performed by your doctor (allergist, pulmonologist, or primary care doctor).
Asthma is a massive topic, and we can't cover in it one episode, let alone take a deep dive. We will be breaking down asthma into three episodes covering all the essential aspects you need to know.
In the first part of our three-part series, we outline the symptoms and triggers of asthma as well as the tests that doctors perform to diagnose asthma. Dr. G and Kortney also talk about differentiating an asthma attack and allergic reaction.
Part 2 of the series will be about the types of asthma and their severity. Part 3 will cover the treatments available for asthma and what goes into an asthma action plan.
What we cover in this episode:
Dr. G and Kortney briefly discuss their time advocating for patients with asthma and allergies on Capitol Hill
The anatomy of the lungs
Define asthma and outline its symptoms and triggers
How doctors diagnose asthma
The tests used to diagnose asthma
How an asthma attack can mask an allergic reaction
Supporting info:
Emma's experience with her son's asthma: Episode 4
Allergy and Asthma Day Capitol Hill 2019 - learn more about how you can get involved in advocating for patients with asthma and allergies
Check out Dr Gupta talking about asthma and air quality on Spectrum News NY1
Great video explaining methacholine and exercise testing by the American Thoracic Society: https://youtu.be/OlXoNKDPtVU
General video on Spirometry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQzNG89pESQ
