U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics reveal that there are 18.9 million adults and 7.1 million children in the United States who suffer from asthma. However, according to a recent CBS Pittsburgh article, a large number of these individuals may have been misdiagnosed.
"One out of every three people who come to me with diagnosis of asthma ends up not having asthma," Dr. Sally Wenzel, director of the University of Pittsburgh Asthma Institute, said in an interview with the news outlet, adding that 25 to 30 percent of asthma cases are the result of a misdiagnosis.
The source reports that there are many different diseases that cause similar respiratory symptoms as asthma, including shortness of breath and chronic coughing. Dr. Wenzel says that breathing tests are key when it comes to determining whether people have asthma, but claims that some doctors are quick to diagnose their patients with the disease because "it is so easy to just prescribe an inhaler and just say call me if you have any problems."
Misdiagnoses can be dangerous, as they often mean that patients aren't receiving the right treatments for their conditions. With this in mind, it's imperative that individuals who experience respiratory symptoms see a doctor they can trust to ensure that they're being accurately diagnosed and treated.
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