Our Services / Asthma

What is asthma?

Asthma is a chronic breathing condition that causes inflammation in your airways, narrowing them. This causes breathing difficulties that can range from mild to life-threatening, depending on the severity of your condition. 

Some individuals with asthma experience breathing problems, while others experience them on occasion. Many people get asthmatic symptoms in response to allergies. For example, if you’re allergic to pet dander or pollen, breathing in those substances causes your airways to constrict. 

Recognizing your triggers helps with asthma management, but avoiding them may not be possible or enough to control your condition. The team at Arizona Chest & Sleep Medicine treats asthma with personalized care after evaluating you with lung function tests such as spirometry. 

What are the symptoms of asthma?

Asthma symptoms come from the inflammation and constriction of your airways and the buildup of mucus inside them. Some of the most common asthma symptoms are:

• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Chest tightness
• Coughing

Even if you don’t have symptoms all the time, your symptoms can flare up during severe episodes called asthma attacks. These can happen after exercise, being in contact with a trigger, due to cold weather, or because of other circumstances. 

How can I control my asthma?

Although there is no cure for asthma, there’s plenty you can do to control the condition, improve your breathing, and prevent or manage asthma attacks. It can be challenging to live with unmanaged asthma when simple actions like laughing, crying, or getting scared can trigger an attack. 

The Arizona Chest & Sleep Medicine team works with you on treating your asthma with evidence-based approaches taking into consideration your symptoms and preferences. They may ask you to carry a peak flow meter to measure the amount of air your lungs expel. You can control your asthma with:

Long-term control medications

Long-term control medications are drugs you take daily to reduce symptoms of asthma and improve your breathing. 

Quick relief medications

Quick relief or rescue medications often come in inhalers, which you use if your asthma symptoms flare-up. Inhaled medications work rapidly, opening your airways when they’re constricting. 

Allergy treatments

Many people struggle with asthma in response to their allergies. By controlling your allergy with biologics or immunotherapy, you can reduce instances of asthma attacks and asthmatic symptoms. 

Critical care medicine at a trauma center may be necessary in severe cases if you’re experiencing a severe asthma attack. A breathing machine, chest tube, or catheter can be used in these instances.  

Find out more about asthma and how you can manage it by calling Arizona Chest & Sleep Medicine or booking an appointment online today.