Asthma Specialist

What is asthma?

Asthma is a potentially serious medical condition that causes your airways to narrow, swell, and produce excess mucus. This string of events reduces the amount of oxygen reaching your lungs and can make it difficult to breathe, or it can trigger a fit of coughing or wheezing.

When you have asthma, your airways are always inflamed. This inflammation may worsen in the presence of a certain trigger, such as exercise or exposure to an allergen. When your symptoms worsen suddenly and you feel like you can’t breathe, that’s called an asthma attack.

Who gets asthma?

People of all ages can get asthma, but it’s most commonly diagnosed in children. Among the 25 million known asthma sufferers in the United States, 7 million are children.

Certain factors may increase your risk of getting asthma, such as:

• Having a family member with asthma
• Being a smoker or exposed to secondhand smoke
• Being overweight or obese
• Having another allergic condition 

What are the symptoms of asthma?

Asthma triggers, symptoms, and severity all vary greatly from one person to another. You may experience asthma attacks only rarely, or have lingering symptoms all the time.

Common asthma signs and symptoms include:

• Chest tightness or pain
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing or whistling sound upon exhale
• Coughing or wheezing attacks that are often worse at night or early morning 

If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, it’s a good idea to schedule a routine asthma test at Gruene Lake Medical. 

What causes asthma?

A variety of substances and situations may worsen asthma symptoms. Common asthma triggers include:

• Allergens such as dust, animal dander, mold, and pollen
• Sulfites in food and beverages
• Irritants such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, or chemicals in the air 

Strenuous physical activity and exercise can also trigger the symptoms of asthma. This type of asthma is referred to as exercise-induced asthma.  

How do you treat asthma?

Although there’s no cure for asthma, many people maintain normal, happy lives by managing their symptoms. The team at Gruene Lake Medical works with you to discover your unique triggers and set of symptoms so you can do your best to avoid a full-on asthma attack.

In addition to helping you identify and avoid asthma triggers, Gruene Lake Medical may recommend medications or an asthma inhaler to reduce your symptoms and help control asthma attacks.

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of asthma, call Gruene Lake Medical or request an appointment online today.