Asthma Treatment in Annapolis, MD

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic (long-term) condition that affects the airways in the lungs that carry air in and out. If you have asthma, the airways can become inflamed and narrowed at times. This makes it harder for air to flow out of your airways when you breathe out.

The physicians and staff at Annapolis Asthma Pulmonary & Sleep Specialists have extensive experience diagnosing and treating patients throughout the Annapolis area for asthma. Our board-certified pulmonologists will take the time to fully evaluate your asthma symptoms and triggers in order to determine the treatment options best for you. If you have been diagnosed with asthma or are seeking diagnosis, please call (410) 266-1644 to schedule an appointment at our pulmonary center in Annapolis, MD.

What Causes Asthma?

The swollen airways in the lungs become sensitive to certain triggers, and when those triggers enter the body, those airways create extra mucus making it difficult to breathe which leads to asthma attacks, complications and sometimes death.

The key is to understand the triggers that cause asthma. Sometimes, you may not even know you have it until you’re exposed to those triggers. This means the environment you live in is a huge cause and risk factor for asthma. Additionally, genetics is a risk factor for asthma.

How Is Asthma Diagnosed?

Your doctor will need to conduct tests to diagnose asthma. First, they will ask about symptoms, medical history, experiences, etc. to get a good sense of asthma is a possibility. After that, the most common test is called Spirometry, in which your doctor will use a device to measure the airflow of the lungs.

Typically, if you have the above symptoms, have a parent with asthma, and also have allergies (including skin allergies), a pulmonologist will conduct a lung functioning test. After that, usually, a trial period of asthma medication will be given, depending on the results, with a follow-up appointment to monitor the outcome.

Goals for Treating Asthma

The main goals for treating asthma include:

• Short-term relief
• Long-term control
• Manage the symptoms
• Reduce asthma attacks
• Know how to prevent an emergency
• Create a personal action plan with your doctor

Asthma treatments work by:

1. Relaxing the muscles that tighten around the airways and help remove and reduce mucus
2. They reduce the swelling and mucus inside the airways

How is Asthma Treated?

There are several options to treat asthma, as it is a fairly common condition.

The main treatments include:

• Medications
• Injections
• Surgery
• Other Therapies

What are Asthma Medications?

Treating asthma with medication is the most common treatment option. There are various ways these medications can be delivered, with

inhalers being the most common. An inhaler is a small, handheld device that delivers medication directly to your lungs.

You can receive asthma medication through:

Inhalers

• • Reliever inhalers -you use a reliever inhaler to treat your symptoms when they occur and usually works within minutes.
  • Preventer inhalers -a preventer inhaler contains a steroid medicine and is used daily to reduce the inflammation and sensitivity of your airways, which stops your symptoms occurring

Nebulizers

• • A machine changes asthma medications from a liquid to a mist so it’s easier to get the medicine into your lungs
  • Usually used if you are having trouble with inhalers
  • Cromolyn sodium is a mast cell stabilizer that prevents the release of certain natural chemicals into your body that can be delivered through a nebulizer

Tablets

• • Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) may also be in a syrup or powder form to prevent symptoms
  • Theophylline can be taken daily to avoid symptoms
  • Steroid tablets are usually a last resort if you don’t respond to other treatments

You will probably take more medicine when you begin treatment to get control of your asthma. Once your asthma is well-controlled, your doctor may be able to reduce the amount of medicine you take.

Injections

For some people with severe asthma, injections of medicines called biologic therapies are given every few weeks. These can help to control the symptoms. They are not suitable for everyone with asthma and can only be prescribed by an asthma specialist. Talk with Annapolis Asthma, Pulmonary & Sleep Specialists to see if injections are the right choice for you to manage your asthma.

Schedule Your Consultation for Asthma Treatment in Annapolis, MD Today

To learn more about asthma and how it may specifically affect you in your daily life, contact our pulmonary specialists for a one-on-one consultation to review the severity of your asthma and the treatment options available. Please call Annapolis Asthma, Pulmonary & Sleep Specialists at (410) 266-1644 to schedule your consultation at our pulmonary treatment center in Annapolis, MD.