Diagnostic Tests for Breathing difficulties

Diagnostic Test list for Breathing difficulties:

The list of diagnostic tests mentioned in various sources as used in the diagnosis of Breathing difficulties includes:

• Physical examination
  • Blood pressure, pulse rate, temperature
  • Inspect for blueness of tongue and skin, reduced alertness and distress due to breathing problems
  • Lung examination to listen to breath sound quality , intensity and for added sounds. Crackles suggest congestive heart failure, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, lung fibrosis or bronchiectasis. Wheezes suggest asthma, chronic bronchitis or emphysema
  • Abdominal examination for enlarged liver which may be a sign of congestive heart failure
• Blood tests
  • Full blood count to exclude anemia as cause of breathing difficulties and also to detect signs of infection, inflammation and asthma ( increased eosinophil cells)
  • Renal function tests and electrolytes
  • Serial cardiac enzymes and troponin to detect cardiac damage from heart attack
  • Arterial blood gases - to look for signs of pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, pneumonia and other lung diseases.
• Other tests
  • Cardiac catheterization and pulmonary angiography - may be needed to identify acute pulmonary embolism, chronic recurrent pulmonary embolism, intra-cardiac shunts and pulmonary hypertension.
  • Bronchoscopy - may be needed to exclude foreign body, lung cancer, bronchiectasis and sarcoidosis.
  • Sputum microscopy and culture - to detect bacterial and fungal causes of pneumonia and exacerbations of bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis.
  • Sputum acid-fast stains for tuberculosis if indicated and routine sputum stains are negative
  • Mantoux test skin testing - if suspicious for tuberculosis active infection.
  • Electrocardiograph (ECG) - to look for signs of heart attack and some causes of congestive cardiac failure.
  • Pulmonary function tests - can be useful in diagnosing asthma and distinguishing pulmonary fibrosis from emphysema.
  • Exercise testing - can be helpful in distinguishing between lung and heart disease and also assessing fitness.
  • Radiological investigations congestive cardiac failure
  • Ventilation - perfusion scan to exclude pulmonary embolism.
  • Pulmonary angiography if ventilation- perfusion scan is inconclusive in ruling out pulmonary embolism
  • Echocardiogram can help diagnose congestive cardiac failure

Home Diagnostic Testing

These home medical tests may be relevant to Breathing difficulties causes:

• Lung & Respiratory Health Tests:
  • Asthma-Related Home Test Kits
  • Home Lung Function Test Kits

 » Next page: Glossary

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