ASTHMA/COUGH/SHORTNESS OF BREATH
Asthma symptoms, which include coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness, are common in an asthma attack. Sometimes asthma is called bronchial asthma or reactive airway disease. Asthma can be controlled with proper treatment.
What Causes Asthma?
Allergies, tobacco smoke, environmental factors, obesity, pregnancy, stress, genetics, airway hyperreactivity, and atopy are all known causes of asthma.
Asthma affects 300 million people in the world and more than 22 million in the US alone. It most often starts in childhood however people of all ages can suffer from it. Asthma kills about 255,000 people every year in the world.
Asthma is known to be the most common chronic disease among children. Five years of age is generally when symptoms start to present themselves. They can begin as frequent episodes of wheezing along with respiratory infections. Other risk factors can include allergies, eczema, or parents with asthma. If you think you may be suffering from asthma, Southwest Pulmonary Associates can help you determine your diagnosis during an appointment, and what treatments will be right for you.
TREATMENTS
ASTHMA INHALERS
This is a handheld device with medication that is inhaled straight into your lungs. The drugs enter your body faster than it would if you took it by pill or IV.
Many inhalers contain steroids, to treat inflammation. Others have a bronchodilator that helps to open up your airways. Some have both — this is known as a combination inhaler.
Anti-inflammatory asthma inhalers prevent asthma attacks and reduce swelling and mucus in your airways.
STEROIDS & ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS
The best treatments for asthma are steroids and other anti-inflammatory drugs. These asthma drugs help to control asthma and also prevent asthma attacks.
Steroids and other anti-inflammatory drugs work by reducing inflammation, swelling, and mucus production in the airways of a person with asthma. As a result, the airways are less inflamed and less likely to react to asthma triggers, allowing people with symptoms of asthma to have better control over their condition.
BRONCHIAL THERMOPLASTY
Another form of treatment for severe asthma is Bronchial Thermoplasty. It delivers thermal energy to the airways of the lungs, decreasing the amount of smooth muscle, and ultimately resulting in less muscle to constrict around the airways. This means fewer asthma symptoms occur. It is mostly used for severe asthma that doesn’t improve with typical asthma medicines.