Most people think of asthma as a childhood problem, but you can have your first asthma attack at any age, and once asthma develops, it’s a chronic condition that lasts throughout your life. At Comprehensive Allergy and Asthma Associates in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles, Cathy Green, MD, provides compassionate and personalized asthma treatment for patients of all ages. If you need help with asthma from a specialist who provides today’s most advanced treatment options, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.
Asthma begins when you inhale an irritant or allergen that causes airway inflammation. The inflammation then leads to swelling and increased mucus production, conditions that narrow the airways. As a result, you have a hard time breathing, and you develop the symptoms of asthma.
Patients with asthma experience symptom flare-ups followed by a period of time when they feel healthy. You may have asthma attacks every day or very rarely. Your symptoms can range from mild to severe, and they may get worse over time.
When you have an asthma attack, you have one or more of these symptoms:
Some patients find that their symptoms get worse at night. It’s also important to know that there’s a type of asthma, cough-variant asthma, in which the only symptom is a chronic cough.
If you have allergies, your asthma is most likely triggered by your allergens. Allergens such as pollen, dogs, cats, dust mites, molds, and foods often cause flare-ups.
Other than allergens, these are a few of the most common asthma triggers:
Exercise triggers asthma flare-ups in about 90% of all asthma patients. If you have exercise-induced flare-ups, Dr. Green can help you stay active with a plan to take medication before your activity begins.
After an examination and diagnostic testing such as pulmonary function tests, Dr. Green develops a customized treatment plan to relieve your asthma symptoms and improve your health.
Asthma treatment includes:
Dr. Green helps you identify your triggers, then works with you to develop a plan to avoid them by controlling your environment.
Rescue inhalers provide quick relief when you have an asthma attack. Inhalers contain medication and a nebulizer that turns the medication into a mist. As you inhale the mist, it quickly reaches your lungs and opens your airways.
Dr. Green may prescribe one of several medications that you take every day to reduce inflammation and lower the frequency of asthma attacks. As an asthma specialist, Dr. Green stays up to date with the most advanced medications, including biologics that can help patients whose asthma isn’t well controlled with other daily medications.
You can count on comprehensive asthma care at Comprehensive Allergy and Asthma Associates. To schedule an appointment, call the office or use the online booking feature.