When Asthma Isn't Causing Your Shortness of Breath

By Fred Little, Health Pro Friday, January 16, 2009

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In this entry, I would like to comment on how the fact that asthma is such a common disease can in some cases lead to individuals being told they have "asthma," yet on detailed review with specialized tests, are found not to have asthma. I know that this can sound a little confusing: "My doctor told ...

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Anonymous

1/22/09 8:28am

There is a new test that will help with the diagnosis of asthma called exhaled nitric oxide (eNO). It directly measures the amount of eosinophillic inflammation in the lungs and can have predictive value for who will respond positively to inhaled or oral steroids. It is a simple 11 second breath manuever and can be done in the physicians office. It does not replace spirometry, but provides important information on the degree of inflammation in the lung.

sudhir bindal

1/ 4/10 7:31pm

Hi,

Sometime (6-8 months) back, I was diagnosed with mild asthma, observed wheeze, felt short of breathe after running and felt chest tightness - normally during winter season(I was in India and India's winter is not that bad, with a minimum temperature around +8 degree celsius)

Now I am in Canada and very well surviving -15 degree temp.

When I take a long breathe, I dont feel any constriction,neither any wheeze or short of breathe after having long morning jog/run.

Kindly suggest what could have been the cause of such symptoms earlier? And what precautions should I take to avoid it in near future.

I felt like writing here, after reading Dr Fred Little's comment on topic : "When Asthma Isn't Causing Your Shortness of Breath"

I am really impressed by his thoughts and insight on this topic.

Thanks in advance.

USMC_Widow

3/16/10 6:54am

Nice to see you recommend testing. My GP interrupted me after I said the words "hard to breathe" and gave me an inhaler prescription without any testing or even further questions. Had he simply stuck around, he would have discovered that my iron levels are fine, I have no wheezing, an inhaler didn't help previously, and my peak flow rates are NEVER below normal. Doesn't sound like asthma to me, but doctors here in Indiana are not accepting new patients.

4/ 6/11 11:55am

Thanks Fred. That told me nothing. It may not be asthma, but what could it be? O2 transfer from aviolae?

When Asthma Isn't Causing Your Shortness of Breath

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