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Asthma

The Center for Primary Healthcare -  - Doctor of Medicine

The Center for Primary Healthcare

Doctors of Medicine & Adult Nurse Practitioners located in Orland Park, IL

Whether your asthma is a minor inconvenience or a major hurdle that affects every day of your life, it’s important for you to manage it and be prepared for an asthma attack at all times. We can help you to develop an Asthma Action plan so that you can live your very best to keep your asthma in the background of your life. Our provider, William Crevier, MD, diagnose and monitor asthma with pulmonary function testing (PFTs) done conveniently within our office. Nebulizer treatments are provided when clinically indicated. If your asthma or your breathing has been ‘acting up’, don’t delay seeking care. It’s important to keep your airways as open and freely exchanging oxygen as possible. To find out if you have asthma and how to manage it, call or schedule an appointment online at The Center for Primary Healthcare in Orland Park, Illinois, today.

Asthma Q & A

What is asthma?

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Asthma is a condition that is characterized by trouble breathing. There is no cure, but you must be prepared for an asthma attack if you have the condition.

If you have asthma, the airways in your lungs are inflamed and swollen, making them oversensitive. When the airways become irritated, the muscles around them tighten, making them narrower. This causes you to have trouble breathing, and can be dangerous to your health.

Sometimes, asthmatic airways are filled with more mucus than healthy airways. This also causes trouble with breathing.

What are the symptoms of asthma?

Asthma varies in severity, and it can appear with several different symptoms involving breathing. Common symptoms include:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Coughing attacks
  • Wheezing
  • Tightness in your chest
  • Whistling sound when you breathe

If your symptoms are new or getting worse, you may need to visit Dr. Crevier for help managing them. If you notice that you’re using your inhaler frequently, you may need a change in your prescription as this could be a sign of worsening asthma.

What are some common asthma triggers?

Asthma attacks are often triggered by actions or substances. If you are allergic to something, for example, it may trigger your asthma. Common triggers of asthma attacks include:

  • Exercise
  • Cold air
  • Pet dander
  • Pollen
  • Dust
  • Stress
  • Smoke
  • Certain medications

You may experience symptoms of asthma without any apparent triggers. In any case, you must be prepared for an onset at any time and avoid the triggers that affect you the most.

What are my treatment options for asthma?

There are many steps that you can take to manage your asthma in the long term and prevent attacks to the best of your ability. Treatment and management options include:

  • Inhalers
  • Allergy medications
  • Bronchial thermoplasty (lung expansion with heat)
  • Frequent checkups with your doctor

If you experience any changes in your symptoms or the severity of your asthma, you should contact your doctor and make changes to your treatment plan as needed.

If you find yourself struggling to breathe at times, or wheezing and coughing, you may have asthma. To learn more and breathe freely again, call or schedule an appointment online at The Center for Primary Healthcare today.