{"id":4075,"date":"2022-08-08T01:36:39","date_gmt":"2022-08-08T05:36:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aafa.org\/provocation-trigger-tests\/"},"modified":"2025-10-07T13:53:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T17:53:14","slug":"provocation-trigger-tests","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aafa.org\/asthma\/asthma-diagnosis\/lung-function-tests-diagnose-asthma\/provocation-trigger-tests\/","title":{"rendered":"Provocation (Trigger) Tests"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Asthma T-Hero Section&#8221; module_class=&#8221;hero tert&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.18.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_image=&#8221;https:\/\/aafa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/AAFA-Website_Tertiary_Asthma.jpg&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_right&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;1%||1%||true|false&#8221; global_module=&#8221;2247&#8243; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; collapsed=&#8221;on&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_enable_image=&#8221;off&#8221; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;bottom_left&#8221; background_horizontal_offset=&#8221;0%&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;2%||0px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Nav Parent Title&#8221; module_class=&#8221;tert-parent&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;|600|||||||&#8221; header_2_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; header_2_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; header_2_font_size=&#8221;32px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||0px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>Asthma<\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code admin_label=&#8221;Breadcrumbs&#8221; module_class=&#8221;bcrumb&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;left&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_css_main_element=&#8221;font-size:16px;||color: #fff;&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Main Content&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;2%||2%||true|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;2_3,1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;2_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_post_title meta=&#8221;off&#8221; featured_image=&#8221;off&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Page Title&#8221; module_class=&#8221;tert-content q&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; title_font=&#8221;|600|||||||&#8221; title_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; title_text_color=&#8221;#008c99&#8243; title_font_size=&#8221;39px&#8221; background_enable_image=&#8221;off&#8221; background_size=&#8221;contain&#8221; background_position=&#8221;center_left&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;left&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221; Intro Content&#8221; module_class=&#8221;secondary-intro&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.18.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#505050&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;24px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;|600|||||||&#8221; header_2_text_color=&#8221;#008c99&#8243; header_2_font_size=&#8221;39px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||3%||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>A provocation test (proh-voh-KAY-shun) is a type of lung test that tells how sensitive your lungs are. These types of tests may also be called challenge or trigger tests.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Page Content&#8221; module_class=&#8221;secondary-intro&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.19.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#505050&#8243; text_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;|600|||||||&#8221; header_2_text_color=&#8221;#008c99&#8243; header_2_font_size=&#8221;39px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||3%||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>The most common types of provocation tests are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Irritant challenge<\/li>\n<li>Exercise challenge<\/li>\n<li>Methacholine (meth-uh-koh-leen) challenge<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Your doctor may choose to do a provocation test for the following reasons:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>To confirm you have asthma<\/li>\n<li>To rule out asthma if other tests or exams did not give a clear diagnosis<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With each dose of irritant, your doctor will have you take a <a title=\"Spirometry\" href=\"\/asthma\/asthma-diagnosis\/lung-functions-tests\/spirometry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">spirometry test<\/a> before and after to see if or by how much your lung function changes.<\/p>\n<h3>Irritant Challenge<\/h3>\n<p>With an irritant challenge, your doctor will expose you to a specific <a title=\"Asthma Triggers\" href=\"\/asthma\/asthma-triggers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">asthma trigger<\/a> to see if your airways react. These might include chemicals, perfume or smoke. After you are exposed to the trigger, you will take a breathing test to see how you respond. This test helps your doctor confirm possible asthma triggers.<\/p>\n<h3>Exercise Challenge<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3168 size-medium alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/aafa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/lung-function-test-provocation-lg-300x210.png\" alt=\"Provocation Test\" width=\"300\" height=\"210\" \/><\/p>\n<p>For some, exercise triggers asthma symptoms. This is known as <a href=\"\/asthma\/asthma-triggers-causes\/exercise-induced-asthma\/\">exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>During an exercise test, you run on a treadmill while your oxygen and heart rate are monitored. This will help your doctor determine if exercise triggers your symptoms.<\/p>\n<h3>Methacholine Challenge<\/h3>\n<p>Methacholine (meth-uh-KOH-leen) is a type of drug that will make your airways tighten up at a lower dose if you have asthma or at a higher dose if you do not have asthma. During this test, your doctor will have you breathe in increasing doses of methacholine. Then they will do a spirometry test to see if your lung function changes.<\/p>\n<p>If your lungs do not react to lower doses of methacholine, you may have another condition that has similar symptoms to asthma. Some conditions that have similar symptoms are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Pneumonia<\/li>\n<li>Upper airway obstruction<\/li>\n<li>Heart failure<\/li>\n<li>Vocal cord dysfunction<\/li>\n<li>Bronchopulmonary dysplasia<\/li>\n<li>Cystic fibrosis<\/li>\n<li>Enlarged lymph nodes<\/li>\n<li>Lung cancer (tumors)<\/li>\n<li>Viral infections<\/li>\n<li>Sinus infections<\/li>\n<li>Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema or chronic bronchitis)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you are on a treatment plan for asthma, but the treatment isn&#8217;t working, talk to your doctor. The site <a title=\"isitasthma.com\/\" href=\"https:\/\/isitasthma.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">isitasthma.com<\/a> has a conversation guide you can fill out and take to your doctor to see if a methacholine challenge is right for you.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code admin_label=&#8221;Print&#8221; module_id=&#8221;print&#8221; module_class=&#8221;clearfix&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.6&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; global_module=&#8221;5156&#8243; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;]<a href=\"https:\/\/aafa.org\/asthma\/asthma-diagnosis\/lung-function-tests-diagnose-asthma\/provocation-trigger-tests\/print\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"Print post\"><svg class=\"WP-PrintIcon wp-print-icon\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 20 20\" fill=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M6 2h8v4H6z\" \/><path d=\"M3 7h14v7h-3v-3H6v3H3z\" \/><path d=\"M6 12h8v6H6z\" \/><\/svg> Print post<\/a> [\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;6%||||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text ul_type=&#8221;none&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Side Nav &#8211; Lung Function Tests&#8221; module_class=&#8221;sidenav&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.18.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#008C99&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; link_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; link_text_color=&#8221;#008C99&#8243; link_font_size=&#8221;16px&#8221; link_line_height=&#8221;1.7em&#8221; ul_text_color=&#8221;#008C99&#8243; ul_font_size=&#8221;16px&#8221; ul_line_height=&#8221;1.7em&#8221; header_4_font=&#8221;|700|||||||&#8221; header_4_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; header_4_text_color=&#8221;#008C99&#8243; header_4_font_size=&#8221;16px&#8221; header_4_line_height=&#8221;1.7em&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#F5EDDF&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;6%|6%|6%|6%|true|true&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#008C99&#8243; global_module=&#8221;9563&#8243; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; link_text_color__hover_enabled=&#8221;on|hover&#8221; link_text_color__hover=&#8221;#692D87&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"\/asthma\/asthma-diagnosis\/lung-function-tests-diagnose-asthma\/\">Lung Function Tests<\/a><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/asthma\/asthma-diagnosis\/lung-function-tests-diagnose-asthma\/feno-tests-to-monitor-feno-levels\/\">FeNO Tests\u00a0to Monitor FeNO Levels<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/asthma\/asthma-diagnosis\/lung-function-tests-diagnose-asthma\/peak-flow-meters\/\">Peak Flow Meters<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/asthma\/asthma-diagnosis\/lung-function-tests-diagnose-asthma\/provocation-trigger-tests\/\">Provocation Tests<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/asthma\/asthma-diagnosis\/lung-function-tests-diagnose-asthma\/spirometry\/\">Spirometry<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_video src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=D0HvxftFDrU&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;YouTube Video&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.18.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;\/asthma\/&#8221; button_text=&#8221;Asthma Resources&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Asthma Resources Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.18.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_use_icon=&#8221;off&#8221; custom_css_main_element=&#8221;width:100%;&#8221; global_module=&#8221;613&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Asthma Care for Adults&#8221; module_class=&#8221;aca-sb&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.19.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#505050&#8243; text_font_size=&#8221;16px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; link_font=&#8221;||||on|||#008c99|&#8221; link_text_color=&#8221;#008c99&#8243; link_font_size=&#8221;16px&#8221; link_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; ul_line_height=&#8221;1.7em&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;|600|||||||&#8221; header_2_text_color=&#8221;#008c99&#8243; header_2_font_size=&#8221;39px&#8221; header_3_font=&#8221;|600|||||||&#8221; header_3_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; header_3_text_color=&#8221;#008c99&#8243; header_3_font_size=&#8221;28px&#8221; background_color=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0%|0%|0%|0%|true|true&#8221; global_module=&#8221;5087&#8243; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pathlms.com\/aafa\/courses\/8092\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3050 size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/asthma-care-for-adults-bt.png\" alt=\"Asthma Care for Adults\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/asthma-care-for-adults-bt.png 630w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/asthma-care-for-adults-bt-480x320.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 630px, 100vw\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nKnowing how to manage asthma is important for better health and quality of life. We offer an online course called <a title=\"Asthma Care for Adults\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pathlms.com\/aafa\/courses\/8092\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ASTHMA Care for Adults<\/a>. This comprehensive program covers a full range of topics everyone with asthma needs to know. This self-paced online course is presented in different formats, such as videos, animations, handouts and more.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>AsthmaA provocation test (proh-voh-KAY-shun) is a type of lung test that tells how sensitive your lungs are. These types of tests may also be called challenge or trigger tests.The most [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"parent":115,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" admin_label=\"About Hero Section\" _builder_version=\"4.17.5\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_image=\"2723\" background_position=\"center_right\" custom_padding=\"2%||2%||true|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" global_module=\"1511\" saved_tabs=\"all\" collapsed=\"off\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" alt=\"About AAFA\" title_text=\"AAFA-Website_Secondary_About\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"] [et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.17.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_image=\"2724\" background_size=\"initial\" background_position=\"bottom_left\" background_horizontal_offset=\"0%\" background_vertical_offset=\"-5%\" custom_margin=\"|||0px|false|false\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||true|false\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"] [et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.17.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_padding=\"|||5%|false|false\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_post_title meta=\"off\" featured_image=\"off\" admin_label=\"Page Title\" _builder_version=\"4.17.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" title_font=\"|600|||||||\" title_text_color=\"#FFFFFF\" title_font_size=\"62px\" background_enable_image=\"off\" background_size=\"contain\" background_position=\"center_left\" module_alignment=\"left\" custom_margin=\"||0px||false|false\" custom_padding=\"8%||0px||false|false\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_code admin_label=\"Breadcrumbs\" module_class=\"bcrumb\" _builder_version=\"4.17.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" text_orientation=\"left\" custom_margin=\"||||false|false\" custom_padding=\"||||false|false\" custom_css_main_element=\"font-size:16px;||color: #fff;\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][wpseo_breadcrumb][\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" admin_label=\"Main Content\" _builder_version=\"4.17.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_image=\"off\" background_size=\"initial\" background_position=\"bottom_right\" custom_padding=\"2%||2%||true|false\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"2_3,1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.17.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"] [et_pb_column type=\"2_3\" _builder_version=\"4.17.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"] [et_pb_text admin_label=\"Page Content\" module_class=\"secondary-intro\" _builder_version=\"4.17.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" text_text_color=\"#505050\" text_font_size=\"24px\" text_line_height=\"1.5em\" header_2_font=\"|600|||||||\" header_2_text_color=\"#008c99\" header_2_font_size=\"39px\" custom_margin=\"||3%||false|false\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"]<\/p><div id=\"page\" class=\"page-global\"><div id=\"BodyTextEditor\"><p>A provocation test (proh-voh-KA-shun) is a type of lung test that tells how sensitive your lungs are. These types of tests may also be called challenge or trigger tests. The most common types of provocation tests are:<\/p><ul><li>Irritant challenge<\/li><li>Exercise challenge<\/li><li>Methacholine (meth-uh-koh-leen) challenge<\/li><\/ul><p>Your doctor may choose to do a provocation test for the following reasons:<\/p><ul><li>To confirm you have asthma<\/li><li>To rule out asthma if other tests or exams did not give a clear diagnosis<\/li><\/ul><p>With each dose of irritant, your doctor will have you take a <a href=\"\/asthma\/asthma-diagnosis\/lung-functions-tests\/spirometry\/\" title=\"Spirometry\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">spirometry test<\/a> before and after to see if or by how much your lung function changes.<\/p><h3><strong>Irritant Challenge<\/strong><\/h3><p>With an irritant challenge, your doctor will expose you to a specific <a href=\"\/asthma\/asthma-triggers\/\" title=\"Asthma Triggers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">asthma trigger<\/a> to see if your airways react. These might include chemicals, perfume or smoke. After you are exposed to the trigger, you will take a breathing test to see how you respond. This test helps your doctor confirm possible asthma triggers.<\/p><h3><strong>Exercise Challenge<\/strong><\/h3><p>For some, exercise triggers asthma symptoms. This is known as <a href=\"\/asthma\/asthma-triggers\/exercise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">exercise-induced<\/a> <a href=\"\/asthma\/asthma-triggers\/exercise\/\" title=\"Exercise Trigger\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bronchoconstriction (EIB)<\/a>.<\/p><p>During an exercise test, you run on a treadmill while your oxygen and heart rate are monitored. This will help your doctor determine if exercise triggers your symptoms.<\/p><p><img alt=\"exercise testing\" class=\"img-responsive\" src=\"https:\/\/aafa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/lung-function-test-provocation-lg.png\"><\/p><h3><strong>Methacholine Challenge<\/strong><\/h3><p>Methacholine is a type of drug that will make your airways tighten up at a lower dose if you have asthma or at a higher dose if you do not have asthma. During this test, your doctor will have you breathe in increasing doses of methacholine. Then they will do a spirometry test to see if your lung function changes.<\/p><p>If your lungs do not react to lower doses of methacholine, you may have another condition that has similar symptoms to asthma. Some conditions that have similar symptoms are:<\/p><ul><li>Pneumonia<\/li><li>Upper airway obstruction<\/li><li>Heart failure<\/li><li>Vocal cord dysfunction<\/li><li>Bronchopulmonary dysplasia<\/li><li>Cystic fibrosis<\/li><li>Enlarged lymph nodes<\/li><li>Lung cancer (tumors)<\/li><li>Viral infections<\/li><li>Sinus infections<\/li><li>Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema or chronic bronchitis)<\/li><\/ul><p>If you are on a treatment plan for asthma, but the treatment isn't working, talk to your doctor. The site <a href=\"https:\/\/isitasthma.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"isitasthma.com\/\">isitasthma.com<\/a> has a conversation guide you can fill out and take to your doctor to see if a methacholine challenge is right for you.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div id=\"BodyTextEditor\"><p>A provocation test (proh-voh-KA-shun) is a type of lung test that tells how sensitive your lungs are. These types of tests may also be called challenge or trigger tests. The most common types of provocation tests are:<\/p><ul><li>Irritant challenge<\/li><li>Exercise challenge<\/li><li>Methacholine (meth-uh-koh-leen) challenge<\/li><\/ul><p>Your doctor may choose to do a provocation test for the following reasons:<\/p><ul><li>To confirm you have asthma<\/li><li>To rule out asthma if other tests or exams did not give a clear diagnosis<\/li><\/ul><p>With each dose of irritant, your doctor will have you take a <a href=\"\/asthma\/asthma-diagnosis\/lung-functions-tests\/spirometry\/\" title=\"Spirometry\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">spirometry test<\/a> before and after to see if or by how much your lung function changes.<\/p><h3><strong>Irritant Challenge<\/strong><\/h3><p>With an irritant challenge, your doctor will expose you to a specific <a href=\"\/asthma\/asthma-triggers\/\" title=\"Asthma Triggers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">asthma trigger<\/a> to see if your airways react. These might include chemicals, perfume or smoke. After you are exposed to the trigger, you will take a breathing test to see how you respond. This test helps your doctor confirm possible asthma triggers.<\/p><h3><strong>Exercise Challenge<\/strong><\/h3><p>For some, exercise triggers asthma symptoms. This is known as <a href=\"\/asthma\/asthma-triggers\/exercise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">exercise-induced<\/a> <a href=\"\/asthma\/asthma-triggers\/exercise\/\" title=\"Exercise Trigger\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bronchoconstriction (EIB)<\/a>.<\/p><p>During an exercise test, you run on a treadmill while your oxygen and heart rate are monitored. This will help your doctor determine if exercise triggers your symptoms.<\/p><p><img alt=\"exercise testing\" class=\"img-responsive\" src=\"https:\/\/aafa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/lung-function-test-provocation-lg.png\"><\/p><h3><strong>Methacholine Challenge<\/strong><\/h3><p>Methacholine is a type of drug that will make your airways tighten up at a lower dose if you have asthma or at a higher dose if you do not have asthma. During this test, your doctor will have you breathe in increasing doses of methacholine. Then they will do a spirometry test to see if your lung function changes.<\/p><p>If your lungs do not react to lower doses of methacholine, you may have another condition that has similar symptoms to asthma. Some conditions that have similar symptoms are:<\/p><ul><li>Pneumonia<\/li><li>Upper airway obstruction<\/li><li>Heart failure<\/li><li>Vocal cord dysfunction<\/li><li>Bronchopulmonary dysplasia<\/li><li>Cystic fibrosis<\/li><li>Enlarged lymph nodes<\/li><li>Lung cancer (tumors)<\/li><li>Viral infections<\/li><li>Sinus infections<\/li><li>Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema or chronic bronchitis)<\/li><\/ul><p>If you are on a treatment plan for asthma, but the treatment isn't working, talk to your doctor. The site <a href=\"https:\/\/isitasthma.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"isitasthma.com\/\">isitasthma.com<\/a> has a conversation guide you can fill out and take to your doctor to see if a methacholine challenge is right for you.<\/p><\/div><p>[\/et_pb_text] [\/et_pb_column] [et_pb_column type=\"1_3\" _builder_version=\"4.17.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_padding=\"6%||||false|false\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_video src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=aSBUDSqXUks&list=PLrLBy23tjd-J7OzSmi6pn1nssfDcCsHob&index=11\" admin_label=\"YouTube Video\" _builder_version=\"4.17.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_button button_url=\"\/asthma-allergy-research\/asthma-research\/\" button_text=\"Asthma Research\" button_alignment=\"center\" admin_label=\"Asthma Research Button\" _builder_version=\"4.17.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_button=\"on\" button_use_icon=\"off\" custom_css_main_element=\"width:100%;\" global_module=\"613\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_url=\"\/asthma-allergy-research\/allergy-research\/\" button_text=\"Allergy Research\" button_alignment=\"center\" admin_label=\"Allergy Research Button\" _builder_version=\"4.17.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_button=\"on\" button_bg_color=\"#008c99\" custom_css_main_element=\"width:100%;\" global_module=\"598\" saved_tabs=\"all\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" button_text__hover_enabled=\"off|desktop\"][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text admin_label=\"Support Our Work Blurb\" module_class=\"sidebar-blurb\" _builder_version=\"4.17.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" text_text_color=\"#505050\" text_font_size=\"16px\" text_line_height=\"1.5em\" link_font=\"|600||on|||||\" link_text_align=\"left\" link_text_color=\"#692d87\" link_font_size=\"16px\" header_4_font=\"|600|||||||\" header_4_text_align=\"left\" header_4_text_color=\"#692d87\" header_4_font_size=\"20px\" background_image=\"2725\" background_size=\"initial\" background_position=\"top_left\" global_module=\"601\" saved_tabs=\"all\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"]<\/p><h4>Support Our Work<\/h4><p>Over the past 15 years, there have been moderate advances in U.S. public policy, health care and research, but racial gaps in asthma outcomes have not changed. Minority groups continue to bear disproportionate hardship in managing asthma.<\/p><p><a href=\"\/get-involved\/make-a-donation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Donate Today ><\/a><\/p><p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-4075","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.5 (Yoast SEO v28.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Provocation Tests to Diagnose Asthma | AAFA\/.org<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Provocation Tests to help trigger Asthma\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/aafa.org\/asthma\/asthma-diagnosis\/lung-function-tests-diagnose-asthma\/provocation-trigger-tests\/\" 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