Asthma & COPD Testing San Antonio
Asthma & COPD Testing
San Antonio
Find Out If It’s Asthma, COPD, or Something Else
Guessing is the problem. Asthma, COPD, chronic cough, and allergy-driven breathing trouble can look almost identical from the outside, and they are not treated the same way. An asthma plan will not control COPD. A COPD assumption can leave treatable asthma untreated for years.
Asthma and COPD testing at Juniper Allergy in San Antonio measures what your lungs are actually doing. Dr. Amanda Trott-Gregorio uses pulmonary function testing to confirm whether your airways are obstructed, whether that obstruction reverses with treatment, and what is triggering it, so your treatment matches your diagnosis instead of a guess.
Meet Dr. Amanda Trott-Gregorio
Dr. Amanda Trott-Gregorio is a board-certified Allergist and Immunologist who has spent the past 10+ years in private practice in San Antonio, transforming the lives of countless patients with her warm, personable approach and genuine passion for resolving allergies.
A native of south Texas, Dr. Amanda Trott-Gregorio graduated from Texas A&M University in 2001. She received her MD from St. George’s University School of Medicine (2003-2007). She completed her residency training at UTMB in Galveston (2007-2010) and Allergy and Immunology fellowship training at Washington University in St. Louis (2010-2012).
A proud native of South Texas, she graduated from Texas A&M University in 2001 before earning her MD from St. George’s University School of Medicine, where she studied from 2003 to 2007. She went on to complete her residency at UTMB in Galveston from 2007 to 2010, followed by a prestigious Allergy and Immunology fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis from 2010 to 2012.
Insurance We Accept
Insurance We Accept
What Is Asthma and COPD Testing?
Asthma and COPD testing is pulmonary function testing, a set of breathing measurements that show how much air your lungs move and how freely they move it.
The core test is spirometry. You take a deep breath and blow out as hard and fast as you can into a spirometer. The machine records your airflow and shows whether there is obstruction, meaning air is getting trapped and can’t leave the airways properly.
If obstruction shows up, you’re given a bronchodilator such as albuterol and the test is repeated. This second measurement is what separates the two diagnoses. If your numbers improve, the obstruction is reversible, which points to asthma. If they don’t move, the obstruction is fixed, which points toward COPD, and the treatment path changes accordingly.
Because a large share of asthma in San Antonio is allergy-driven, mountain cedar, oak, ragweed, grass, dust mites, pets, skin testing or blood testing is often run alongside your lung function test to identify what’s setting the airways off, not just that they’re inflamed.
Could Asthma or COPD Testing Be Right for You
✓ You’ve had a cough that won’t go away, especially at night or early morning
✓ You wheeze, or your chest feels tight after exercise, cold air, or allergy season
✓ You get short of breath doing things that never used to leave you breathless
✓ You’ve been using an inhaler for years, but nobody has ever tested your lung function
✓ Your breathing gets noticeably worse during cedar, oak, or ragweed season
✓ You’ve been told it’s “just allergies” or “just bronchitis” more than once
✓ You’re a current or former smoker with a persistent cough or daily phlegm
✓ You’ve been diagnosed with COPD but have never had spirometry to confirm it
✓ Your child coughs or wheezes with colds, exercise, or seasonal changes
What to Expect: The Asthma and COPD Testing Process
1
Initial Consultation
Our allergy specialist reviews your breathing symptoms, triggers, smoking and medication history, and family history to decide which testing fits your situation.
2
Pulmonary Function Testing
You breathe into a spirometer so we can measure your airflow. If obstruction is found, we repeat the test after a bronchodilator to check whether it reverses, the step that distinguishes asthma from COPD.
3
Results
Your results are reviewed and interpreted by our board-certified allergist right here in our San Antonio clinic, alongside any allergy testing done on the day.
4
Your Personalized Plan
We walk you through your results and build a treatment plan personalized specifically to you.
Hear It from Our Happy Patients!
Why Choose Juniper Allergy
Board-Certified Allergist
Our board-certified Allergy and Immunology specialists deliver expert, evidence-based care focused on accurate diagnosis and effective, long-term treatment.
Over 10 Years of Experience
For more than 13 years, Juniper Allergy has proudly provided comprehensive allergy and immunology services to patients and families throughout San Antonio.
Individualized Care
We use modern, individualized care personalized specifically to each patient, never a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment.
Compassionate Team
At Juniper Allergy, we prioritize the relationship between doctor and patient so you always feel heard and supported.
Conditions We Diagnosed
Allergic Asthma
Asthma is driven by inhaled triggers like cedar, oak, ragweed, grass, dust mites, mould, or pet dander, the most common pattern we see in San Antonio.
COPD
Airflow obstruction that does not reverse after a bronchodilator, typically linked to long-term smoking or occupational exposure, and needing a different treatment path than asthma.
Asthma-COPD Overlap
Features of both conditions in the same patient, partial reversibility with ongoing fixed obstruction, where testing guides a combined approach.
Bronchoconstriction
Coughing, wheezing, or chest tightness that shows up during or after physical activity, often mistaken for being out of shape.
Chronic Cough
A cough lasting eight weeks or more that hasn’t responded to the usual treatments, where lung function testing helps find the cause.
Severe or Poorly Controlled Asthma
Symptoms that persist despite treatment, where objective testing guides the next step, including biologic therapy where appropriate.
Stop Guessing About Your Breathing
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does asthma and COPD testing cost in San Antonio?
Is asthma or COPD testing painful?
No. Spirometry only involves breathing into a mouthpiece. It takes effort; you’ll be asked to blow out hard several times, but nothing is injected or cut, and most patients are done in minutes.
How is asthma different from COPD?
Both cause airflow obstruction, but asthma obstruction usually reverses after a bronchodilator and COPD obstruction largely does not. Testing before and after treatment is what tells them apart, which is why we run it that way.
Can you have asthma and COPD at the same time?
Yes. Some patients show partial reversibility alongside ongoing fixed obstruction, sometimes called asthma-COPD overlap. Testing shows which features are present so your treatment covers both rather than only one.
Do I need to stop my inhaler before the test?
Often yes, because inhalers can mask obstruction and change your results. We’ll give you specific instructions when you book. Never stop a medication without checking with us first.
Can my child be tested for asthma?
Yes. Children who can follow the breathing instructions can complete spirometry, and we adjust our approach to their age and comfort. We guide families through the results and next steps.
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