Asthma Specialist

What is asthma?

Asthma is a respiratory disease that causes your airway to narrow and your lungs to swell and produce excess mucus. For some people, it’s a minor annoyance that responds to at-home treatments like a quick-relief inhaler. For others, it can trigger a life-threatening condition called an asthma attack.

If you have asthma, you might experience chest tightness, wheezing, or coughing during exercise. That’s especially true if it's cold outside.

What are the symptoms of asthma?

Symptoms of asthma include:

• Coughing
• Chest tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty talking
• Wheezing
• Fatigue
• Rapid breathing
• Trouble sleeping

If you have asthma, you might also experience frequent infections, like the common cold or pneumonia.

What causes asthma?

Experts aren’t entirely sure what causes asthma, but several factors may contribute, including environmental and genetic factors. For example, if you have family members with asthma, you’re more likely to experience the condition as well.

How is asthma diagnosed?

To diagnose asthma, your provider at The Sleep Lab reviews your medical history and asks about your symptoms, including their severity and if certain activities like exercise or exposure to certain substances make them worse.

Next, your provider conducts an exam. They listen to your heart and lungs and order several types of pulmonary function tests, including:

Spirometry

Spirometry is a test that assesses how much air you exhale after taking a deep breath and how quickly you can breathe out.

Peak flow

Peak flow measures how hard you exhale. If your peak flow readings are below average, it means your lungs aren’t working at full capacity and your asthma might be getting worse. 

How is asthma treated?

At The Sleep Lab, treatment of asthma includes a combination of healthy lifestyle changes, trigger avoidance, and prescription medication. After your provider determines the severity of your asthma, they might recommend:

• Inhaled corticosteroids
• Leukotriene modifiers
• Combination inhalers
• Theophylline
• Short-acting beta antagonists
• Oral and intravenous corticosteroids

If you have asthma that’s triggered by allergies, your provider might recommend allergy shots or biologics. The goal of treatment is to relieve uncomfortable symptoms and make it easier to breathe.

To explore the treatment options for asthma, make an appointment at The Sleep Lab by calling the office or clicking the online booking feature today.