Asthma
WHAT IS ASTHMA?
Asthma is a common lung disorder in which the inner lining of the small breathing tubes of the lungs, the bronchioles, become inflamed and swollen. At times this leads to spasms or narrowing of these tubes. This may cause wheezing, shortness of breath, and/or tightness of the chest. Cough, especially with exercise or in the middle of the night, is particularly common in asthma. In mild asthma, the only symptom may be cough. Wheezing may not occur, or may only be heard by your doctor by listening through the stethoscope.
As with many medical conditions, a combination of heredity and environment plays the biggest role in both causing and aggravating asthma. The most common triggers of asthma are allergies, respiratory infections, exercise and cigarette smoke.
Definitive diagnosis and optimal treatment of each individual case requires not only periodic exams, but also measurement of lung function, starting by five or six years of age. Pulmonary function testing (PFT'S) are done by measuring the amount and rate of air flow from your lungs. We often check to see how this changes after using asthma medications. These results, along with your progress since your last visit, allow us to customize and update your treatment plan.
Since allergies are a common trigger in up to 85% of individuals with asthma, we will usually perform allergy testing as part of the initial evaluation in order to optimize your treatment. If your lung function tests and allergy tests are normal, we will work with your primary care doctor to rule out other causes.