To diagnose asthma, first a doctor will take a history and do a physical exam. Tests may be performed such as:
• lung (pulmonary) function tests including a spirometer, or peak flow meter to measure lung function
• blood tests to measure levels of IgE, antibodies that are released during allergic reactions
• bronchoprovocation to measure how sensitive your airways are
• tests to rule out other conditions such as reflux disease or sleep apnea
• chest x-rays or EKG to find out if a foreign object or another condition is causing your symptoms