Making the Diagnosis
Any one of the symptoms listed above is a good enough reason to see your doctor for a checkup. Your doctor will review your medical and family history, and he or she will ask you about your symptoms and if something seems to trigger them.
Your doctor will examine your nose, listen to your lungs, and may measure your lung function with tests called pulmonary function tests. Your doctor may also suggest blood, sputum, or other tests to eliminate other possible conditions such as throat infection or cystic fibrosis.
An allergist or other doctor can identify your triggers by scratching the skin with tiny amounts of various allergens to see which ones may be triggers in your asthma.