Asthma Care Services in Atlanta
Chacko Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Center is a top provider of asthma diagnosis and treatment in the Atlanta area. With asthma symptoms including shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing and persistent coughing, people will often experience a lower quality of life. Our allergy doctors work with patients to identify the main causes of these symptoms and deliver targeted treatments for improved health. To ensure you are getting the best asthma treatment possible, make an appointment at one of our centers.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a type of Chronic disease that starts in the airways and makes a person’s breathing difficult. Asthma can cause inflammation of one’s air passages, this causes narrowing of the airway that carries oxygen to the lungs.
Asthma can be a serious and even dangerous disease that affects up to 26 million Americans. There are three major factors of asthma:
- Airway Obstruction – When you breath normally there are banks of muscles in your airways that are relaxed and allows the air to move freely. However, people with asthma and other colds or diseases, cause the bands to tighten, less air is then flowing causing a person to feel shortness of breath and cause wheezing.
- Inflammation – People with asthma can have swollen/red bronchial tubes. Inflammation can cause long-term damage to your lungs. The best way to make sure that no damage is caused, you should see an allergy doctor and get the proper treatment for your Asthma.
- Airway Irritability – The airways of people with asthma are highly sensitive and react to triggers like allergens, cold air, exercise, smoke and respiratory infections. This increased sensitivity often leads to asthma attacks and makes the condition hard to control without adequate treatment.
What Causes or Can Trigger Asthma?
Due to the sensitive airways caused by asthma different things within the environment can trigger asthma to worsen. Some of these triggers include:
- Respiratory Infections and Illnesses – Viral infections like sinusitis, colds and the flu can inflame the airways and trigger asthma symptoms.
- Environmental Triggers – Exposure to allergens, air pollution, smoke, strong odors or cleaning chemicals can irritate sensitive airways.
- Physical and Emotional Stress – Activities like exercise or strong emotions such as laughter, crying or stress can lead to breathing difficulties.
- Weather Conditions – Cold air, humidity or sudden changes in weather can cause the airways to tighten and become more reactive.
- Medications – Aspirin and NSAIDs can trigger asthma attacks and require aspirin allergy treatment to manage symptoms.
What are the Risk Factors for Increasing the Chances of Developing Asthma?
There are several factors that can increase your chance of developing asthma, some of these risk factors include:
- Inheritance – Individuals are more likely to develop asthma if a close family member also has the condition.
- Having an Allergic Condition – Conditions like allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis increase the risk of asthma.
- Overweight – Being overweight can put extra pressure on your lungs and exacerbate your asthma.
- Smoker – Smoking damages your lungs and dramatically increases the chances of developing asthma.
- Secondhand Smoke – Exposure to secondhand smoke can irritate your airways and contribute to developing asthma.
- Pollution or Fumes – Breathing in air pollution, chemical fumes or workplace irritants can increase your chances of getting asthma.
6 types of asthma and how they're treated
There are many types of asthma, and treatment depends on which of the main 6 types of asthma you may have. Your allergy doctor will perform tests to find out what treatment for your type of asthma is best for you. The distinct types of asthma include:
- Allergic Asthma – This type of asthma happens when an allergy causes allergic asthma to flare up.
- Asthma without Allergies – Some people experience asthma that is triggered by an upper respiratory infection like a cold or flu. This type of asthma occurs over a brief period of about 10-14 days.
- Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD) – This is a type of asthma that is triggered when someone takes aspirin.
- Exercise-Induced Asthma – This is when physical activity or exercise causes coughing, difficulty breathing, and chest tightness.
- Cough Variant – A type of asthma that is characterized by a dry hacking cough.
- Occupational Asthma – When a person with asthma works in a position where they work with items that trigger their asthma.
Before determining the appropriate treatment plan, your doctor will test for asthma. Most commonly, spirometry testing is used to diagnose asthma by assessing how well your lungs are functioning. The results are then used to guide asthma treatment, with daily medication and quick-relief inhalers helping to reduce inflammation and prevent asthma attacks.
Who Is Most at Risk From Asthma?
Data provided by BMC Pulmonary Medicine shows that allergic asthma is most likely to affect young children, while incidences of non-allergic asthma peak during late adulthood. From age 40 and onwards, non-allergic asthma accounts for most new cases.
This data highlights how the causes and triggers of asthma can vary depending on when it develops. For example, allergic asthma often starts in childhood and is linked to a family history of allergies and exposure to environmental allergens. For those age 40 on up, new cases are more likely to be non-allergic asthma.
Common Asthma Questions
Is there a cure for allergic asthma?
There is no cure for allergic asthma, but symptoms can be managed using medication and an understanding of your triggers.
How long do asthma symptoms last?
The duration of asthma symptoms varies considerably. Your symptoms may pass in just a few minutes, or could last a few hours.
How do you test for allergic asthma?
There are various allergic asthma tests, including skin prick, blood, spirometry and lung function tests.
Professional Allergic Asthma Treatments in the Atlanta Area
Chacko Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Center provides expert asthma testing and treatment services for patients of all ages. Our allergists use state-of-the-art testing and comprehensive treatment plans for better health outcomes. To visit us at one of our locations in the Atlanta area call (678) 668-4688 or request an appointment now.
