Additional tests: Ruling out conditions other than asthma

If your healthcare professional suspects that you have a condition in addition to or other than asthma, you may need tests such as:

• X-ray or computerized tomography (CT) imaging of your chest.
• CT scans of your sinuses.
• Blood tests.
• Gastroesophageal reflux assessment.
• Testing of the phlegm in your lungs for signs of a viral or bacterial infection.

Your care professional also may want to see whether you have other conditions that often happen with asthma and can worsen symptoms. These include:

• Heartburn, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.
• Hay fever.
• Sinusitis.

Your healthcare professional also may perform allergy tests. These can be skin tests, blood tests or both. Although not used to diagnose asthma, allergy tests can help identify an allergic condition, such as hay fever, that may be causing your symptoms or worsening existing asthma.

Sometimes, diagnosing the cause of breathing problems is a challenge. It can be difficult to tell asthma from other conditions — particularly in young children.

When asthma happens with another condition that affects breathing, it can further complicate diagnosis.

Even if a diagnosis isn't certain, your care professional may prescribe medicines or other treatment to see what helps. It may take time — and patience — to get the correct diagnosis and decide on the best course of treatment.