Asthma is a condition affecting the bronchial tubes in the lungs. In asthma, the airways become inflamed and swollen, making it difficult to breathe. In some people the asthma occurs once sporadically but in others it can be chronic. It can be mild, or severe enough to be a medical emergency. Asthma is our specialty. Both of our doctors have premier training and extensive experience treating asthma in children and adults.
Signs That You May Have Asthma Include:
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- Exercise intolerance
Common Triggers For Asthma
- Exercise
- Respiratory infections
- Allergies to pollen, dust, animals, cockroach, and molds.
- Chemicals such as cigarette smoke
- Cold air
- Acid reflux
- Sinus disease
- Weather change
- Medications such as aspirin
How Is Asthma Diagnosed?
The diagnosis is based on the history and examination, combined with testing which may include the some of following:
- Pulmonary function testing to detect airways obstruction
- Allergy testing for environmental triggers
- Chest or sinus x-ray
- Exhaled nitric oxide breath test to measure inflammation
- Methacholine inhalation challenge
How Is Asthma Treated?
Our doctors will customize a treatment plan for you based on the causes of your asthma and its severity. This may include environmental measures to reduce exposure to dust mites or animal danders. There are a wide variety of excellent medications available now. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in biologic agents for the treatment of eosinophilic asthma. Biologic agents are drugs that target specific proteins in the body that are involved in the immune response. These drugs are designed to reduce inflammation and improve lung function in patients with asthma.
Currently, there are several biologic agents available for the treatment of eosinophilic asthma. These include mepolizumab, reslizumab, benralizumab, dupilumab and tezepelumab. These drugs work by targeting a specific protein, such as IL4, IL5, IL13 and TSLP, which are involved in the production and activation of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell that plays a key role in asthma.
To qualify for treatment with biologic agents, patients must meet certain criteria. Specifically, they must have severe asthma that is not well controlled with standard medications, and they must have evidence of eosinophilic inflammation, as measured by blood or sputum tests.
Numerous studies have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of these biologic agents in the treatment of eosinophilic asthma. Overall, these studies have shown that these drugs can significantly reduce exacerbations, improve lung function, and improve quality of life in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma.
Contact our office for a consultation.