Asthma

What is asthma?

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung condition that occurs when your airways are overly sensitive to specific irritants. When you inhale the irritant, your airways become inflamed and swollen. They also produce more mucus than usual, and the muscles lining the airways tighten. As a result, you have a hard time breathing, and an asthma flare-up begins.

What symptoms occur during an asthma attack?

During an asthma attack, you have one or more of the following symptoms: 

• Chest pain or tightness
• Difficulty breathing
• Wheezing (whistling sound when exhaling)
• Cough

Many people find that their coughing gets worse at night. You can also have a dry cough as your only asthma symptom.

What triggers asthma?

Allergens trigger asthma in people who have allergies. However, many possible irritants can result in asthma attacks. A few examples include:

• Pollen
• Dust mites
• Animal dander
• Mold spores
• Cold air
• Stress
• Tobacco smoke
• Anxiety
• Certain medicines
• Respiratory infections
• Sinus infections

Many people also have an asthma flare-up when they begin to exercise.

How is asthma diagnosed?

Your provider reviews your medical history, learns about your symptoms, and performs lung function testing to accurately diagnose asthma. Though there are several lung function tests, your provider begins with spirometry. Spirometry shows the amount of air you can inhale and how forcefully you can exhale the air from your lungs.

How is asthma treated?

Your Allergy Asthma & Sinus Center provider creates an individualized asthma care plan to manage your symptoms and reduce future asthma attacks.

Your asthma treatment may include:

Identifying and avoiding triggers

Your provider helps you identify the things that cause your allergy attacks and create a plan for avoiding them.

Allergy testing and treatment

If allergies cause your asthma flare-ups, your provider does in-office allergy testing and recommends a combination of rescue inhalers and daily controller medication. Additionally, immunotherapy is sometimes recommended.

Taking medications

Everyone with asthma needs a rescue inhaler to quickly open their airways when an asthma attack begins. You may also need a daily maintenance medication that reduces the severity and frequency of future asthma attacks.

Moderate to severe asthma that standard medication does not control well may need the next level of treatment: monoclonal antibodies. Your provider may prescribe: 

• Cinqair®
• Nucala®
• Dupixent®
• Tezspire® 
• Fasenra® 

These medications target specific cells, reducing their ability to trigger asthma symptoms.

Don't wait to get help for asthma. Call Allergy Asthma & Sinus Center or book an appointment online today.