Asthma Treatment

Every person is different. Therefore, the symptoms of asthma and best asthma treatment may be quite different for your or someone else with asthma.

While there are many symptoms of asthma, the most common is wheezing or a high pitched whistling sound when you breathe. Other asthma symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath.
• Chronic coughing.
• Chest pain or tightness.
• Trouble sleeping due to wheezing or coughing.

Asthma symptoms or asthma attacks are often caused by exposure to allergens such as pollen, pet dander, dust mites or mold. However, asthma flare-ups can also occur due to non-allergic triggers including pollution, smoke, cold air or weather changes. Asthma attacks can also be caused by a cold, a viral or bacterial infection.

Children with asthma may show the same symptoms as adults. However, in some children chronic cough may be the only symptom of asthma.

If you or your child are experiencing one or more of these common asthma symptoms, it would be helpful for you to make an appointment with an allergist:

• Coughing that is constant or a cough that is made worse by viral infections happens while your child is asleep or is triggered by exercise and cold air.
• A wheezing or whistling sound when your child exhales.
• Shortness of breath or rapid breathing, which may be associated with exercise.
• Avoiding sports.
• Trouble sleeping due to cough or difficulty breathing

Asthma Diagnosis

We diagnose asthma by taking a thorough medical history and by doing a careful physical examination.  The doctor will focus the evaluation on your respiratory tract, ears, nose and throat.  Breathing tests can measure your lung function.

Asthma Outcomes

Today, almost everyone with asthma can function fully. Indeed, some of the world’s greatest athletes have asthma.

You or your child can also expect to be able to function fully, with no limitations to your daily activities.

Many people with asthma also have allergies, so we may perform allergy testing. Treating the underlying allergic triggers for your asthma will help you avoid asthma symptoms.