If you find that you have a hard time breathing and that you’re often struggling to catch your breath, there’s a chance that you may be dealing with asthma. It’s really important to be able to identify asthma so that it can be properly treated and managed. You might find that you’re coughing often, dealing with wheezing, or you have a shortness of breath. Asthma can range from a mild nuisance to a life-threatening condition that needs to be properly dealt with.
Types of Asthma
For some people, asthma can flare up in specific situations. These situations can point to what kind of asthma you might be dealing with. The types of asthma include:
- Exercise-induced asthma
- Occupational asthma
- Allergy-induced asthma
Symptoms and Causes of Asthma
Asthma symptoms may vary for each person, and you might have asthma attacks infrequently or have symptoms all the time. Common symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
- Wheezing
- Trouble sleeping
- Coughing or wheezing attacks
- Urticaria, also known as hives
It’s not fully known what the cause of asthma is, but it’s thought to be environmental and hereditary.
Asthma Triggers
There are various triggers and irritants that could cause an asthma attack. Common triggers include:
- Physical activity
- Allergens
- Respiratory infections
- Cold air
- Smoke and other air pollutants
- Stress
- Sulfites or preservatives
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Diagnosing and Treating Asthma
Your doctor will perform a physical exam to make sure they can rule out other conditions that may cause similar symptoms to asthma. They’ll also measure your lung function to determine how much air moves through your lungs as you breathe.
There’s no cure for asthma but there are ways to manage and treat it. You may need medication to control your asthma and make it less likely to have an asthma attack. You can also use an inhaler for relief from an attack. You might also need to treat allergies in order to lessen your allergy symptoms.
Contact Your Doctor Today
Contact your doctor at Advanced Allergy & Asthma Associates in Fort Worth & Southlake TX, today for any additional information and to schedule an appointment! Call 817-428-7000 to schedule in Forth Worth or call 817-410-2111 to schedule in Southlake.