Understanding Eosinophilic Asthma

It's not always easy to figure out if you have eosinophilic asthma. You and your doctor will have to discuss things such as your symptoms and health history to know for sure. Learning what to expect and how to prepare can help you make the most of your appointment.

If you have eosinophilic asthma, you'll likely see an allergist (who treats asthma and allergies), an immunologist (who treats problems with the immune system), or a pulmonologist (who treats lung diseases).

Your doctor will probably ask about your symptoms, what triggers them, and your personal and family and health history. They may do a physical exam to check your breathing and look for things such as swelling or growths in your nose or sinuses and middle ear infections.

Your doctor may measure your eosinophil levels. This is key in finding out if you have eosinophilic asthma. There are three main tests you can get: the sputum induction test, blood test, and bronchial biopsy.

It helps to keep a journal of all your symptoms, even ones that don't seem related to asthma. You can write down your symptoms and how severe they are, the date and time they started, and anything that might have triggered them. You'll also want to list any other health conditions, medicines, vitamins, or supplements you take.

If you're concerned about eosinophilic asthma, ask your doctor these questions at your next appointment: What tests will I need? How accurate are those tests? How can I avoid asthma attacks? How do I use the medicine you gave me? How often will I need to see you? Could anything else be causing my symptoms? Will I need to see other types of doctors as well? How can I learn more?