At 40, which tests can identify my uncontrolled asthma?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am a 40-year-old woman, and despite taking daily inhalers, my asthma is still out of control. I often wake up at night wheezing, and my attacks have been getting worse, especially around pollen season. Could you explain

Why can asthma remain uncontrolled despite medication?
What further tests (like spirometry or peak flow readings) should be done to get a better understanding?

I am also wondering if there are alternative treatments to improve control.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

Asthma is a disease in which your airway is hyper-responsive to any kind of irritants, which may be dust, pollens, spray, foggy weather, and bird beads. It is reversible by taking beta-agonist inhalers and steroid inhalers. If not responsive to this, we increase the dose and add systemic steroids.

What type of inhaler do you use?
How many times do you use it?
Is there any other medicine that you use for it?

You also asked about why it is persistent. It is due to not using the inhaler properly as guided or using a low dose, or you may have some persistent triggers. For this, I need to listen to the proper history for you to sort out the main reason. The test that you need to do for now is the peak flowmeter, which is an easy and home-based test. In which you do three morning and three evening records for one day, and show me the record to see the severity of your disease.

I hope this information will help you.

Thanks.