Asthma

[Schoulayer]

Is there any foolproof way to determine the difference between prolonged shortness of breath caused by anxiety and shortness of breath caused by asthma?

First off, some background information. I'm 23 years old, and up until the last month or so I considered myself to be in very good health. I've been a pretty regular jogger up until recently. I was dianosed with 'unspecified' asthma in my early teens but haven't really had to use any asthma medication in over a decade. I'm not sure if I ever really had asthma in the first place. I have been extremely stressed lately (sick with worry!)

Recently I've been experiencing shortness of breath off and on (since a few weeks ago!). My normal peak flow range seems to consistently stay between 575 and 650. I find myself yawning a lot and trying to catch my breath.

In one particularly bad attack I found myself feeling short of breath for 4 hours straight in the night time. I used Albuterol but it did not have any effect, so I went to urgent care. Once there the doctor listened to my heart and lungs and told me they sounded fine. She gave me a Xanax and my breathing symptoms cleared up within ~15-20 minutes.

After I got back home I slept for a few hours. The following days I began to feel short of breath as well. During these episodes of feeling short of breath my peak flow readings seem to remain in the 575-650 zone, they don't decrease at all from my normal range.

Is a peak flow meter an accurate way to tell the difference between Asthma and Anxiety?