Asthma Treatment in Saginaw, MI
Asthma is a common inflammatory condition that causes the airways to narrow or constrict, making it difficult for an individual to breathe. The CDC estimates that a staggering 25 million Americans have asthma. It’s also reported that one out of every 12 children has asthma, making asthma the most prevalent chronic condition among American children.
Asthma is categorized as intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent, and severe persistent, depending on the severity and frequency of symptoms.
Asthmatic individuals may not always be aware of the condition’s existence, especially if they’ve never been diagnosed before. However, keeping an eye on your breathing and lung function can alert you to any ongoing issues before it’s too late. We recommend getting in touch with our doctors in Saginaw, MI, if you’re experiencing breathing difficulties, wheezing, persistent cough, and feelings of fatigue
Types, Causes, and Symptoms of Asthma
Wheezing is the most common indicator or symptom of asthma. Wheezing occurs when the bronchial tubes that carry air to the lungs become constricted due to inflammation or mucus build-up. Other asthma symptoms include coughing, chest tightness, fatigue, panic, difficulty talking, and shortness of breath.
Asthma occurs in different forms, including allergic asthma, non-allergic asthma, occupational asthma, exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, aspirin-induced asthma, and nocturnal asthma. The type of asthma you have dictates the symptoms you’ll experience.
A single cause of asthma is yet to be identified. However, some possible triggers include genetics, history of viral infections, exposure to allergens and irritants such as pollen, pet dander, and dust, intense emotions, extreme weather conditions, and exercise.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Some cases of asthma are mild, while others can be severe and even life-threatening. Therefore, we encourage patients showing symptoms consistent with asthma to get checked and receive timely treatment. Our doctors examine you or your child against various criteria to assess for asthma. In particular, our doctors evaluate your child’s health history, conduct a physical exam and carry out breathing tests to measure airflow in and out of the lungs. The outcome of this evaluation determines the treatment steps.
Treatment for asthma falls into three key categories: breathing exercises, quick-acting treatments, and long-term asthma control medications. Treatment is carefully tailored for each patient based on the type of asthma, triggers, and patient’s age. Our doctors may prescribe a combination of various therapies depending on the patient’s unique needs.
Is your child experiencing wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightening, and fatigue? They could have asthma. Get in touch with MI Health Clinic today to get evaluated by our experienced doctors near you.