Diagnosis of cardiac asthma
Considering how similar it is to asthma, cardiac asthma might be challenging to identify. Misdiagnosis is rather typical. A doctor would probably first evaluate whether heart failure is the cause by reviewing your medical history and risk factors in order to distinguish between the two.
Testing procedures that may be used to identify heart failure include:
- Physical exam of the body: The doctor may also listen for further indicators of cardiac asthma and heart failure, such as unusual breathing noises and an unusual heart rate.
- Blood test: A blood test may be suggested by the doctor to help identify illnesses that might cause heart failure, look for signs of excess fluid, and rule out other possible causes for your symptoms.
- Echocardiogram: A form of ultrasound called an echocardiogram creates a pictorial view of your heart using sound waves. The doctor uses the image to determine the amount of blood pumping and can be used to check for any irregularities or abnormalities in the way the heart is pumping.
- Electrocardiogram: An ECG tracks the electrical activity of your heart and can help spot irregularities in its rhythm.
- X-ray of the chest: An enlarged heart or fluid in your lungs can be found via a chest X-ray.
- Breathing tests to check for lung issues, your doctor can suggest breathing examinations such as a peak flow or spirometry test.
- Other imaging methods the condition of your heart can also be determined using images from a CT or MRI scan.