Asthma Specialist

What is asthma?

Asthma is a chronic lung condition that causes inflammation in your lungs and airways. This inflammation makes it difficult for you to breathe. For some, inflammation can be severe enough to cause a medical emergency.

Several factors can trigger asthma-related inflammation. For many people, genetics, existing allergies, and other environmental triggers can increase your risk. Common causes of an asthma attack include:

• Pollen
• Cold air
• Food allergies
• Physical activity
• Respiratory infections

You might also experience asthma-related breathing difficulties if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition where stomach acids flow back into your esophagus due to weakness in the esophageal sphincter.

What are the symptoms of asthma?

Several symptoms are linked to asthma attacks. For some people, symptoms occur daily, while others experience only occasional asthma-related breathing issues.

Other symptoms of asthma include:

• Chest pain
• Wheezing
• Persistent cough
• Shortness of breath

For some, an asthma attack can be severe enough that you’re unable to catch your breath. Such an attack requires immediate medical attention.

How is asthma diagnosed?

The medical team at Family Allergy & Asthma Center offers comprehensive, on-site diagnostic testing. The staff also reviews your medical history and does a physical exam to determine if underlying issues are causing your symptoms.

One of the most common tests they use is spirometry, a lung function test that measures how much air you can take in and move out of your lungs before and after you take asthma medications.

To gather more information about your condition, your Family Allergy & Asthma Center provider could order other types of testing, including:

• Allergy test
• Chest X-ray
• GERD evaluation
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Vocal cord dysfunction testing

Your Family Allergy & Asthma Center provider might also recommend a sleep study to determine if sleep apnea — a severe and sometimes life-threatening form of snoring — is contributing to your asthma.

How is asthma treated?

While there’s no cure for asthma, the Family Allergy & Asthma Center medical team focuses on controlling and preventing an asthma attack.

Your provider can prescribe medications that reduce inflammation and reopen your airways at the first signs of an asthma attack. Medications can be in pill form or delivered through an inhaler, which provides immediate relief of airway inflammation.

Chronic asthma can require biologic therapy drugs, which target specific antibodies in the blood that contribute to asthma. The Family Allergy & Asthma Center medical team customizes your medications to your specific needs.

If your asthma relates to allergy triggers, you’ll need to take over-the-counter or prescription allergy medications or immunotherapy to prevent asthma attacks. This treatment involves a series of injections of small amounts of allergens to help your body build up a tolerance of them, reducing your body’s allergic reaction.

If you think you or your child has asthma, schedule a consultation at Family Allergy & Asthma Center today online or by calling the office.