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 In
diagnosing asthma, your doctor or specialist is very concerned about making
wrong diagnosis. During the diagnosis, your doctor or specialist will endeavor
to systematically eliminate the possibility of other diseases which symptoms
closely resemble that of asthma. This is vital because the treatments that the
asthma sufferers require are very different from the other diseases that
resemble asthma.
For example, if the asthmatic symptoms witnessed are triggered by a sensitivity
to a particular allergen, a simple solution will be just to remove the source of
the allergen - for example if it is pet dander - and this will eliminate the
need for any medication.
Emphysema is one such disease with symptoms very similar to asthma. It is a lung
or pulmonary disease that is manifested by the loss of elasticity of the lung
tissue and the deterioration of lung capillaries. It may be caused by long term
tobacco use or exposure to tobacco smoke and/or exposure to toxic chemicals.
Because of the overall deterioration of lung tissue and cell structure the air
becomes trapped in the lungs and cannot be expelled properly. Exertion will
result in shortness of breath leading to hyperventilation which make the chest
appears expanded.
Bronchitis can seem very similar to asthma as well, in that it will affect a
sufferer's ability to breathe adequately. It is also an inflammation of the
bronchi wherein the lining of the larger bronchial tubes after becoming inflamed
produce an excessive amount of mucous. It can be the result of contracting a
virus or infection, however it can also come from too much exposure to tobacco
smoke. There are two categories of bronchitis, namely, acute bronchitis which
can last anywhere from several days to weeks and chronic bronchitis which can
last from a few months to a couple of years depending on the irritation and
damages involved. It is characterized overall by a persistent cough that is an
effort in part to dislodge the build up of mucous.
Asbestosis is a lung disease that will leave it's sufferers feeling short of
breath when they are active but eventually will worsen to feeling it even when
they are at rest. It can come as well with chest pain and a dry cough. It is a
result of breathing in tiny fibers of asbestos that permanently work to scar
lung tissue. Although awareness of the dangers of asbestos has grown in modern
times, there is still some industries and jobs that can bring about exposure to
it and millions still have the possibility of being affected.
Pneumonia can also produce symptoms that include shortness of breath, chest pain
and coughing. It is a very serious disease that is basically an infection of the
lungs. This infection can come from various germs that include viruses, fungi
and bacteria. These germs then settle in the air sacs of the lungs, growing and
overcoming the body's immune defenses. Pus and mucous begin to fill the sacs and
it becomes harder to breathe adequately. Along with this symptom the sufferer
will feel extremely tired and unwell. They will also cough up a yellowish green
phlegm.
Due to the existence of these other diseases that resemble asthma, a doctor or
specialist must exercise special caution in the diagnosis of it. Sufficient time
must be given for the doctor or asthma to make an accurate diagnosis.
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