Your GP can often diagnose asthma from your symptoms and some tests.
What happens at your GP visit
Your GP may ask:
- what symptoms you have
- when symptoms happen and how often
- if anything seems to trigger your symptoms
- if you have conditions such as eczema or allergies, or a family history of them
They may ask you to do some breathing tests. This is to confirm if you have asthma.
Children under 5 often cannot do breathing tests properly. Your GP may offer treatment without doing a breathing test if your child is under 5 and has symptoms.
Your GP may refer you to an integrated care hub (care hub) if:
- you need spirometry or other breathing tests
- your asthma is difficult to control
Lung function tests
Your GP or care hub team may do tests to check how well your lungs work.
Spirometry
Spirometry is a test to diagnose and monitor certain lung conditions.
You blow into a device called a spirometer. A spirometer measures how much air you can breathe out in 1 forced breath.
Peak flow test
You blow into a device called a peak flow meter. A peak flow meter measures how fast you can breathe out. You may need to check your peak flow regularly to monitor your asthma.
Other tests
Your GP or specialist may do other tests to confirm asthma or asthma triggers.
FeNO test
FeNO stands for fractional exhaled nitric oxide. You breathe into a device that measures the level of nitric oxide in your breath.
The level of nitric oxide can show:
- how inflamed your airways are
- if you have certain types of allergic asthma
Challenge test
You breathe in a powder or mist that can irritate your airways and make them get narrower. The test shows how sensitive your airways are.
This test is only done if other tests do not give a clear result. You do the test in a hospital.
Allergy tests
Your GP or care hub team may refer you for skin testing.
This is to see if you are allergic to common allergens that can trigger asthma, such as:
- pollen
- dust mites
- flakes of skin or hair from animals
- mould
