Overview:

Asthma feels like having overly sensitive airways in your lungs. When certain things, known as triggers (like pollen, exercise, or stress), come along, these airways get twitchy and narrow, making it harder to breathe. It’s like trying to breathe through a straw. This can lead to coughing, wheezing, and feeling like you can’t catch your breath. If you have asthma, your body might drop some hints when it’s not feeling its best. You could notice things like coughing a lot, especially at night or after exercising, feeling short of breath, wheezing (which sounds like a whistle when you breathe), and even a tight or heavy feeling in your chest. If these signs pop up often, it’s a good idea to chat with your allergist who can help figure out the best game plan to keep your breathing smooth and steady. The good news is, with the right care, diagnosis and medications, you can keep your airways calm and go back to breathing easy.

Diagnosis

When it comes to figuring out if you have asthma, your allergist will ask about your symptoms, give your breathing a check-up, and sometimes do special tests, like blowing into a tube (spirometry) to assess your lung function. Once they’ve gathered the necessary information, you can then can create a game plan together to get asthma under control.

Treatment

Treatments often involve using inhalers, which are designed to decrease inflammation in the lungs and help open up your airways. Your allergist might also suggest avoiding certain triggers, like smoke or furry friends, to keep your lungs happy. Biologics are newer and specialized medicines used to treat asthma as well. They work by targeting specific parts of the immune system that cause inflammation in the lungs. These medicines are given as injections or tablets and help reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks. Biologics are especially helpful for people with asthma who may not get enough relief from regular treatments. They provide a precise and personalized way to manage asthma symptoms and improve overall lung health. In the case of any treatment plan, asthma can be managed, letting you get back to the important things in your life.