With a proper diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan, you can often be better able to manage your asthma and reclaim control of your breath. Asthma diagnosis involves a multi-pronged approach to pinpoint the underlying airway inflammation and determine its severity.

Your doctor should meticulously review your medical history, including symptoms, frequency, triggers, allergies, and family history of asthma or allergies.

Afterwards, doctors usually conduct a physical examination to listen to your chest for wheezing and assess your breathing patterns. This empowers doctors to create a personalized treatment plan using medications and inhalers. 

Tests to Confirm the Diagnosis

A series of testing is often performed to make sure it truly is asthma that is affecting you. Here are common tests that you may encounter:

• Peak Flow Meter: This handheld device measures your peak expiratory flow (PEF), which is the maximum rate of air you can forcefully exhale. Tracking PEF readings at home can help you monitor your asthma control.
• Spirometry: This cornerstone test measures how much air you can forcefully exhale and how quickly. Spirometry may be repeated before and after using a bronchodilator like Albuterol to assess if your airways respond to medication.
• Allergy Testing: Skin prick tests or blood tests can identify allergens that might trigger asthma symptoms. While not a definitive test for asthma, it can guide treatment decisions.
• Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) Test: This test measures the level of nitric oxide in your breath, which can be elevated in people with airway inflammation.

Tailored Treatment with Medications and Inhalers

Once you are diagnosed, your doctor can recommend an appropriate treatment plan based on your specific needs. In managing asthma, various asthma inhalers deliver medication directly to the lungs for targeted relief. 

Trelegy and a Trelegy inhaler are specific options combining multiple medications in one inhaler for comprehensive control. Biologics are also options. However, Nucala side effects like sinus congestion may also be considered. 

Here’s an overview of common medications and inhalers used for asthma control:

• Quick-relief Inhalers: Albuterol inhalers are crucial for managing sudden asthma symptoms during an attack. They provide rapid relief by opening narrowed airways. Trelegy Ellipta is a single inhaler that combines an ICS, LABA, and a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) for comprehensive asthma control in appropriate patients.
• Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS): The mainstay of long-term control, ICS medications like beclomethasone and budesonide reduce airway inflammation. They come in various inhalers, including the Trelegy inhaler, which combines ICS with LABA and LAMA for comprehensive control. While highly effective, ICS can cause throat irritation, hoarseness, and oral thrush (fungal infection) if not used with proper inhaler technique. Rinsing your mouth after each use can help minimize these side effects.
• Long-acting Bronchodilators (LABA): These medications, like those found in a Breztri inhaler and Symbicort inhaler, relax the muscles surrounding your airways, improving airflow and preventing symptoms for extended periods. These medications can cause heart palpitations, tremors, and nervousness. If you experience these side effects, discuss them with your doctor. Additionally, the Breztri inhaler and Symbicort inhaler combine LABA and ICS for long-term asthma control.
• Biologics: Xolair, Mepolizumab, and Nucala asthma medications can target specific inflammatory pathways for severe asthma. These injectable medications control asthma that is not well-managed with traditional options. It’s important to note that Nucala side effects like sinus congestion should be considered. These medications are generally well-tolerated, but some people may experience injection site reactions, sinus congestion, and upper respiratory infections.

Developing an asthma action plan with your doctor is vital. This plan outlines how to identify triggers, use medications effectively, monitor your asthma control, and recognize the need for medical intervention.

By working collaboratively with your doctor, understanding your asthma diagnosis, and adhering to your personalized treatment plan, you can be better able to effectively manage your asthma and enjoy a full, active life.

Don’t hesitate to discuss asthma treatment options, including Trelegy, Breztri, and Xolair, with your doctor to find the approach that works best for you.