Mercy Health Partners is a leading-edge healthcare provider offering top-rated hospitals, board-certified physicians, and a wide variety of programs and services, including pulmonary medicine.
What is Asthma? Asthma is a reactive airway disease, involving inflammation that obstructs air flow to the lungs. It is characterized by wheezing, shortness of breath, cough, and tightness in the chest. If you have any of these symptoms, and especially if they are worse at night, you should check with your doctor. Mild vs. Acute Asthma Asthma is a treatable disease, but early detection and treatment is very important. Mild asthma can usually be treated with an inhaler, used as needed. More serious asthma will require use of steroids and even injectable medications, in addition to the inhaler. Both quick-relief and long-term meds may be used. If your wheezing is severe, you should get to a doctor immediately or even to the emergency room. Who is most at risk to get asthma? People with a family history of asthma; under age 20 it affects more males than females; from age 20-40 more females than males present symptoms; people with exposure to allergens like air pollution, smoking, pollens, pet danders and molds. How do allergies play a part? People with asthma often also have allergies, but you can have allergies and not have asthma. Different times of year will trigger more severe reactions, when the specific allergens are more prevalent. Allergens include things like ragweed, pollens, grass, trees, mold, pet dander, smoke and dust mites. If you have allergies and not asthma, you can relieve symptoms by:
How do I know if my asthma is under control? If you are using your inhaler more than two times per week, or are having trouble sleeping through the night due to coughing, wheezing, or difficulty breathing, you should see your doctor to re-evaluate your treatment plan.
For more information, go to e-mercy.com or call a Mercy Medical Associates primary care office near you, or your family doctor.
