About Asthma

Asthma Symptoms & Diagnosis

If you have asthma, you might hear a whistling sound when you breathe (wheeze). You might also cough, feel your chest tighten, or become short of breath. Asthma symptoms, severity, and frequency vary from person to person. In some cases, the asthma attack may be severe enough to become life threatening. Besides a thorough medical history and physical exam, you will likely undergo a lung function test. This test will measure the amount of air you breath into and out of your lungs and how fast you blow the air out of your lungs. It is also used to measure the amount of oxygen in your blood. Your doctor may also have you undergo other tests to rule out other diseases or conditions.