Diagnosed with asthma by one doctor but then received a different second opinion? What is the reason for this, why is this common in asthma?
Asthma is a variable condition, in which you may feel very well on some days, but your breathing may be very affected on others. Some patients only have episodes of dry cough, others have episodes of wheeze and chest tightness. Some patients have an overlap between asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Asthma may be allergic or non-allergic or only exercise induced. Other patients may have symptoms similar to asthma after a chest infection, but these can resolve completely after a few months.
For these reasons, making the distinction between asthma and other respiratory conditions can sometimes be difficult. It may be hard for most doctors to accurately diagnose asthma from the first consultation. However, the picture usually becomes clearer during follow-up consultations, as more information about the disease behavior emerges.
