Asthma

What causes asthma?

Asthma is a chronic condition that causes your airways to become narrow and inflamed. This can make it difficult for you to breathe and make you feel like you can’t catch your breath. Though the exact cause of minor asthma isn’t known, medical experts find that the following risk factors and issues can increase your risk:

• Allergies
• Being overweight
• Certain medications
• Family history of asthma
• History of respiratory infections
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Contact with certain chemical irritants

You’re also more likely to struggle with asthma if you’re a smoker or have been exposed to secondhand smoke.

How is asthma diagnosed?

Since asthma can be incredibly dangerous to your health, the medical practitioners at Express Lane Urgent Care spend time thoroughly evaluating you during your exam. Your doctor needs to listen to you breathe by placing a stethoscope on various points of your chest. As you breathe in and out, they listen for wheezing or whistling.

To confirm an asthma diagnosis and help determine the best course of treatment for your needs, your doctor may also perform a breathing test. With the spirometry test, for example, you exhale into a specialized tube that measures how much air you exhale after a deep breath, as well as how fast you breathe out.

Or you may need a peak flow test. This breathing test evaluates how hard you can breathe out. If your reading is low, it’s a sign that your lungs aren’t working as well as they should be. Once your physician better understands your lung function, they can talk with you about asthma treatment options.

Is there a cure for asthma?

No, asthma is a lifelong condition. But with the help of the compassionate medical team at Express Lane Urgent Care, you can manage asthma and learn to prevent future asthma attacks or lessen their severity. Your asthma treatment plan is likely going to include a combination of long-term and quick-relief medications, such as:

• Combination inhalers
• Inhaled corticosteroids
• Oral corticosteroids
• Allergy shots
• Short- or long-acting beta agonists

Your dedicated doctor at Express Lane Urgent Care counsels you on how and when to use your medications, so you can learn to manage your asthma.

If you need treatment for asthma, head to Express Lane Urgent Care for a walk-in visit. You’re also welcome to call to schedule an evaluation.