What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic lung disease. Although asthma affects children most often, it can affect adults of any age as well. Asthma sufferers have symptoms mainly during attacks in which they experience significant respiratory problems.
If you or your child has asthma, it's important to manage the disease effectively with the help of your Abilene Family Medical Associates doctor. Without treatment, asthma can cause serious problems and even prove fatal. Fortunately, asthma is very manageable with the right approach.
What are the symptoms of asthma?
Asthma symptoms usually include some or all of the following:
- Breathing difficulty
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Chest pain
- Feeling of chest constriction
- Dizziness
Sometimes, the symptoms may be severe enough that you faint due to lack of air and dizziness.
What are the risk factors for asthma?
Although asthma can occur in anyone, it has a genetic connection in many cases. If your mom, dad, or another immediate family member has asthma, you're more likely to develop it. Other factors that may put you at risk for asthma include:
- Childhood respiratory problems
- Allergies
- Smoking
- Air pollution exposure
- Obesity
Your Abilene Family Medical Associates doctor assesses your risk factors and helps you minimize them if possible.
What are asthma triggers?
Asthma triggers are the circumstances that launch an asthma attack. There are many possible triggers, with some of the most common including:
- Very cold weather
- Strenuous exercise
- Pollen
- Pet dander
- Dust mites
- Cigarette smoke
- Mold
Everyone has different triggers, and your doctor can help you track your asthma attacks to identify and eliminate your triggers whenever possible.
How is asthma treated?
Your Abilene Family Medical Associates doctor customizes asthma treatment for you after considering your symptoms, your asthma attack frequency, and how the attacks affect your life. Treatment may include the following options:
Rescue medications
You can use rescue medications, which are usually inhalers when an asthma attack starts to lessen the intensity and duration of the attack.
Preventive medications
Preventive medications can be in either inhaler or oral medication form. You take these medications every day to help prevent asthma attacks.
Allergy medications
If you have allergies along with your asthma, you may need allergy shots or oral medication for allergy symptoms. This, in turn, often helps minimize asthma attacks.
Get asthma help at Abilene Family Medical Associates by calling the office or scheduling an appointment online today.
