Asthma is diagnosed through a combination of clinical and laboratory tools. Typically, a diagnosis is formed from a combination of patient history, a physical examination of the lungs using a stethoscope, and lung function tests (e.g., spirometry, peak expiratory flow, and response to an inhaler).[1] Since allergens can provoke immune responses that worsen the symptoms of asthma, clinicians may also do allergy tests.
How is asthma diagnosed?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Asthma is diagnosed using a combination of patient history, physical examination of the lungs, lung function tests, and potentially allergy tests to identify triggers. Key tests include spirometry and peak expiratory flow measurements, along with assessing the response to an inhaler.