Asthma Tests: Determines The Cause And Severity Of Your Asthma
Asthma Tests: Determines The Cause And Severity Of Your Asthma
When a doctor diagnosis a person with asthma, they will tell that person what kind of asthma they have and the severity of the condition. Asthma is a disease of the respiratory system that causes a person’s airways to constrict and, thus, makes the person unable to breathe. Asthma can be a very serious condition that can cause death if not handled properly. To determine if you have asthma and how severe it is, you’ll want to have an asthma test.
Ask Your Doctor To Test You
An asthma test will be conducted by your doctor. The asthma test will test your breathing ability as well as your ability to breathe under certain conditions. Your doctor may even put you on a treadmill to test how well you breathe during exercise. In fact, your doctor may even give you an allergy test to determine if certain elements bring on your asthma attacks.
An asthma test is a good idea for anyone who has ever experienced an asthma attack or for anyone who wants to know if they have asthma to prevent an attack from happening. To have an asthma test performed, notify your doctor. The doctor visit is well worth it when you consider that it could save your life.
If, after an asthma test, it is determined that you have asthma, your doctor will also tell you how severe it is. If it isn’t too severe, you can likely live a normal life, just as you have been, without changing your lifestyle too much. If, however, after an asthma test, your doctor tells you that your asthma is severe, it will likely take some getting used to as you may need to change your lifestyle drastically in order to prevent an attack which could take your life.
It is a good idea to have an asthma test performed if you have any inkling that you may have asthma. Asthma can harm you and it can take your life if you’re not careful. Be sure to listen to your doctor and make sure you follow the doctor’s orders whenever they tell you to refrain from certain things. For example, if you smoke and your doctor tells you to stop, you should stop. It may take some getting used to but if you listen to your doctor you can live a long, healthy life.
Click on any of these links to find out more about allergy induced asthma, asthma test and cause of asthma.
Hypothyroidism Tests: How To Test For Thyroid Disease
Hypothyroidism Tests: How To Test For Thyroid Disease
Hypothyroidism is a disease that affects the thyroid gland, which is a small gland located at the base of the neck. Hypothyroid disease means the gland is under active, meaning it is not working as hard as is required for many functions throughout the body.
In the case of hypothyroidism, testing involves finding out which hormones are not being produced in sufficient amounts. There are two diseases that actually affect the thyroid gland most commonly; these include hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism results in too much thyroid hormone being produced; hypothyroidism results in too little thyroid hormone being produced, and both conditions will require some form of treatment.
Tests help determine how much thyroid hormone is being produced and which hormones are not being produced in sufficient quantities. A health provider can then determine what action to take to correct hormone imbalances.
What Tests Are Appropriate
Millions of people are affected by hypothyroidism in the U.S. alone every year. Because of this health providers need a simple and accurate test to diagnose an underactive thyroid. Fortunately there is a simple test…a blood test…that doctors can use to test this disease.
Hypothyroidism is a disease that often falls in the category of autoimmune diseases, where the body’s immune system attacks itself instead of foreign invaders. This form of hypothyroid is known as ‘Hashimoto’s’.
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In cases of hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones to regulate the body’s key functions including heart rate and metabolism. Inflammation of the thyroid gland can cause this, as can illness or surgical removal of part of the thyroid gland.
The doctor will measure the amount of various hormones in the blood including thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine or T4, and triiodothyronine or T3 in the body.
Typically a range between 0.4-3.0mlU/L is normal for TSH, but this may vary from person to person, and acceptable ranges will vary between labs. Levels outside of this range are indicative of a problem. If TSH is much higher than this, it suggests that an individual has hypothyroidism.
To get a full picture your doctor should also check levels of free T3 and free T4. If these levels are low this can also be indicative of low levels of active thyroid hormones, also suggestive of hypothyroid disease.
Other Tests
There are other tests a doctor may want to take to examine the health of the thyroid gland. For example, modern technology now allows the health provider to conduct tissue scans using ultrasound, and computed tomography (CT) together with radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) tests.
Doctors also test newborn babies for hypothyroid because infants born with hypothyroidism can develop mental problems, so it is important they receive treatment immediately. Infants receive testing through blood tests.
What To Do Following Testing
If your lab results come back abnormal you should consult with your health provider and develop a plan of action to help restore health to the thyroid gland. This may involve changing your diet, developing an exercise plan, taking certain herbs, vitamins and minerals, considering iodine supplementation, and/or beginning a regimen that includes supplementation with synthetic hormones.
Be sure you understand your test results completely before you begin any changes in your lifestyle. You should feel comfortable asking your health provider questions about your results. You may also ask for a copy of your results to review on your own. You can keep a file of these at your home so you can monitor your progress with time as you make healthy lifestyle changes.
For more information on hypothyroidism levels, or how you can boost your thyroid function naturally, please visit www.HypothyroidismSecrets.com where you can grab a FREE copy of Duncan Capicchiano’s hypothyroidism secrets mini-course. Duncan Capicchiano N.D. is a fully qualified Naturopath, Author, and Medical researcher specializing in hypothyroidism.
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