An estimated 26 million Americans have asthma, according to the Centers for Disease Control. That’s one in 12 people or over seven percent of adults and more than eight percent of children. Asthma is a chronic condition, which means it cannot be cured. However, asthma can be controlled with the right medications, the right precautions and the right lifestyle. The asthma specialists at the Allergy & Asthma Center will develop a custom Asthma Action Plan so you can live life with asthma to the fullest.
Asthma is a chronic disease involving the airways in the lungs. These airways, or bronchial tubes, allow air to come in and out of the lungs.
If you have asthma, your airways are always inflamed. The inflammation worsens, they become even more swollen and the muscles around the airways can tighten when something triggers your symptoms. This obstruction makes it difficult for air to move in and out of the lungs, causing signs/symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or chest tightness.
For many people with asthma, the timing of these symptoms is closely related to physical activity. In addition, some otherwise healthy people can develop asthma symptoms only when exercising. This is called exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), or exercise-induced asthma (EIA). Staying active is an important way to stay healthy, so asthma shouldn’t keep you on the sidelines. Your asthma specialist can develop a management plan to keep your symptoms under control before, during and after physical activity.
People with a family history of allergies or asthma are more prone to developing asthma. Many people with asthma also have allergies. This is called allergic asthma. Non-allergic asthma can affect people who do not have allergies. Occupational asthma is caused by inhaling fumes, gases, dust or other potentially harmful substances while on the job.
A trigger is something that provokes an asthmatic response from your body. When you have asthma, your body sees these triggers as a threat and releases chemicals to combat them – and these chemicals, in turn, can cause an asthma attack.
Different people can have different triggers, but common asthma triggers include allergens, emotions, exercise, infections/illness, irritants and weather. Triggers can also come from certain medications and for some people foods.
No matter the cause, asthma is a serious condition, but it responds well to treatment.
Asthma symptoms can best be described as how asthma makes a person feel. Signs are the outward manifestations of an asthma episode.
Symptoms of asthma may include:
The most common signs of asthma are:
Asthma makes breathing difficult. Asthma symptoms may be mild or life-threatening. If you suspect you have asthma, you should come to the Allergy & Asthma Center for a complete evaluation. If you have asthma, you will need to follow a long-term and short-term treatment plan to keep your asthma under control, so you live life to its fullest.
A diagnosis of asthma is made based upon your history and symptoms, as well as physical examination. Specific personal medical history points that are important include a history of environmental allergy, food allergy and eczema. Family history is also considered, as a positive family history increases a person’s chances of developing asthma.
Lung function testing and exhaled nitric oxide testing can be performed in our offices in just a few short minutes. These tests show how well your lungs are functioning and help to determine if airways are constricted or inflamed. In addition, you may need to undergo allergy testing or an exercise provocation challenge to help aid in making the diagnosis and to determine the triggers of your asthma. This information is critical to developing an effective treatment plan.
Asthma is a chronic condition and cannot be cured. Symptoms can be controlled with effective asthma treatment and management. This involves taking your medications as directed and learning to avoid triggers that cause your asthma symptoms. Your allergist at the Allergy and Asthma Center will prescribe the best medications for your condition and provide you with specific instructions for their use.
Asthma medications fall into two categories: long-term controller medications and short-term, quick-relief medications.
Long-term control medications are used daily to maintain control of asthma symptoms and prevent asthma exacerbations. These medications are in different categories and can be used alone or in combination with others. They are to be taken every day, even when you are doing well, to prevent episodes.
Short-term, quick-relief medications are used to relax and open the airways and relieve symptoms during an asthma flare-up, and can be taken before exercising if prescribed. These include: short-acting beta-agonists. These inhaled bronchodilator medications include albuterol, levalbuterol and pirbuterol. Quick-relief medications do not replace controller medications. If you rely on rescue relief more than twice a week, it is time to see your allergist.
In addition to medications, critical features of asthma management include the identification and avoidance of asthma triggers. Asthma monitoring is essential and includes regular lung function readings and routine follow up visits with your asthma specialist at the Allergy and Asthma Center. Taking asthma medications as they are prescribed and following your individualized Asthma Action Plan will allow you to live life to the fullest.
