The following are some testing and diagnostic procedures that are used by doctors and medical providers to identify asthma cases. Spirometry The Spirometry test is used to diagnose asthma and identify its severity.  In a spirometry test, you breathe forcefully into a tube and a device measures the amount of airflow passing through it.  This is known as forced expiratory volume (FEV). It also measures your total lung capacity i.e. the largest amount of air you are able to breath out. This is known as Forced Vital Capacity (FVC). People will asthma will have restricted airflow, which will be represented by a decreased FEV and FEV:FVC ratio. If a patient is given medication to help open the lungs (bronchodilator) and then repeats the spirometry test, these numbers will show an improvement in most cases. Peak Flow A peak flow meter can be used to monitor breathing capacity and to check the effectiveness of asthma treatments . This is a handheld device that you breathe into as hard as you can. As you blow an arrow will rise, indicating how much air you were able to breathe. The higher the number, the better. Most devices will also be color coded. Green indicates a good number with adequate asthma control, yellow indicates a need to seek medical help, and red indicates an emergency.

While no cure for asthma currently exists, there are medications available that can help stabilize the condition and reduce the frequency of, or even prevent, further asthma attacks. Some patients can outgrow asthma. Those afflicted with persistent or intermittent asthma can use medication to manage the symptoms. For asthma patients, it is important to avoid known triggers of asthma and be aware of the warning signs of an acute attack. Doctors and medical providers will prescribe medication based on the asthma symptoms exhibited and severity types of asthma .  Commonly used asthma medications include bronchodilators, corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, and mast cell stabilizers. Bronchodilators Short acting beta adrenergic blockers. e.g. Albuterol Short acting bronchodilators are often the first line of treatment for patients who have low severity cases and exhibit asthma symptoms less than  twice a week. They are administered by inhaler in order to open up the airways during an asthma attack. Long acting beta adrenergic blockers. Salmeterol, formoterol, etc Used for maintenance and administered daily via inhaler. Beta agonists are medications that bind to the beta receptors on the muscles surrounding the bronchial tree and cause them to relax so that the airways can remain open. Inhaled corticosteroids Common brands include Flovent, Beclovent, and Pulmicort.

Asthma is a condition that affects an estimated 300 million people across the globe. There are a number of complications that can arise for asthma patients. Some of these include- Increased risk of infections such as pneumonia or influenza. Decreased quality of life due to poor management of the condition. Remodelling of the lungs due to chronic inflammation. Status asthmaticus – an acute form of asthma in which attacks follow each other without pause. Patients afflicted with this do not easily respond to traditional asthma treatments. If you are an asthma patient, you can easily implement methods to avoid any of the aforementioned complications by developing an asthma treatment plan with your doctor. Some of these methods include- Not smoking. Avoiding asthma triggers and acting upon early detection of asthma symptoms . Inoculating yourself with a flu or pneumonia shot. Maintaining good hygiene practices, such as regular hand-washing, in order to limit exposure to allergy.

Allergies and asthma are often thought to be unrelated conditions. However, in many cases there is a causal relation between the two. For instance, common allergens (like pet dander, dust, and pollen) trigger allergic inflammation in the lungs followed by more serious asthmatic symptoms. Doctors call this variety of asthma ‘allergy-induced asthma.’ How does an allergic response cause an asthmatic reaction? Many of us suffer from allergies or know someone who suffers from allergies of some kind. It’s a common sight when someone is exposed to an allergen they are known to react to, and as if on cue, the reaction follows. An allergic response occurs when the immune system mistakenly identifies a harmless allergen (i.e., cat dander) as an invader and releases antibodies. How ironic that It is this protective mechanism that leads to allergy symptoms of itchy eyes, hives, runny nose, headache, cough, and nasal congestion. If you also suffer from asthma, a simple allergic reaction can trigger wheezing and coughing due to tight and restricted lungs and lead to a full blown attack. Who’s most at risk of allergy-induced asthma? If you suffer from allergy symptoms resulting in hay fever (caused by the powdery pollen that’s produced by weeds, grasses, and certain trees), you may have a higher risk of also developing asthma.

According to The Mayo Clinic most treatments for asthma and allergies follow their independent paths, and these treatments don’t always work together even where patients suffer from both.  While patients with allergies, asthma, or both are often prescribed medications to treat their specific symptoms, doctors concur that the best and most proactive defense is knowing your symptom triggers and avoiding them as much as possible. However, if you suffer from allergy-induced asthma, there are treatments that can help relieve the symptoms of both conditions.  1) IgE Therapy Anti-immunoglobulin E (commonly called IgE therapy) helps prevent the release of IgE antibodies and histamine chemicals in response to an allergic reaction. By treating the reaction itself with medicines like Xolair, IgE therapy works to prevent the allergy and asthma trigger together. 2) Prescription Corticosteroids Patients of allergy induced asthma who turn to an inhaler too often to bring the breathlessness under control may be prescribed a corticosteroid (either inhaled or delivered orally in prescription pill form) by their physician. Inhaled steroids, or “controller” medications, are administered via a portable device every day to reduce inflammation in the airways for longer periods of time. While oral steroids like prednisone are meant to reduce severe inflammation caused by an asthma attack.