Asthma
Family Care Specialists Medical Group
Family Medicine & Primary Care located in East Los Angeles, Highland Park, and Montebello, CA
More than 25 million Americans have asthma, which affects kids and adults alike. Wheezing and coughing are common signs of asthma, but with the right care from Family Care Specialists Medical Group, you can breathe easier. We have four clinic sites located in greater Los Angeles (Boyle Heights, Highland Park and Montebello, California), and staffed by board-certified family doctors fluent in English and Spanish. For accurate diagnosis and lasting care of asthma, call today for an appointment!
Asthma
What is asthma?
A chronic lung condition, asthma inflames and constricts your airways. Asthma commonly starts in childhood but affects people of all ages, causing wheezing and difficulty breathing.
Asthma affects the airways that carry air to and from your lungs. With asthma, your airways become:
- Inflamed
- Sensitive
- Swollen
- Frequently filled with mucus
Your muscles surrounding your airways also tighten, restricting your air flow even more.
While there’s no cure for asthma, with proper treatment you can manage your symptoms and enjoy normal, daily activities. Your provider at Family Care Specialists Medical Group will partner with you to promote your overall health and well-being while living with asthma.
What are the symptoms of asthma?
Asthma symptoms can be mild or flare up during an attack. The most common signs of asthma are:
- Coughing
- Trouble breathing
- Tightness in your chest
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
A severe asthma attack can be life-threatening and requires immediate treatment.
How is asthma diagnosed?
An accurate diagnosis is the first step toward clearer breathing, free of asthma symptoms. Your provider at Family Care Specialists Medical Group will want to know if asthma and allergies run in your family. Your providers also will ask what triggers your asthma and about conditions that can interfere with your condition, such as:
- Sinus infections
- Reflux disease
- Psychological stress
- Sleep apnea
You probably need to take a breath test, which involves blowing into a hollow tube. The test helps your provider gauge how well your lungs are working.
To help confirm your diagnosis, you’ll likely need a chest X-ray or a skin test to see if you’re allergic to certain substances.
How is asthma treated?
At Family Care Specialists Medical Group, your provider partners with you to decide on the right medicine, or combination of medicines, to manage your asthma. Generally, this includes a combination of short-term and long-term treatments.
The goal of your treatment is to prevent uncomfortable symptoms and:
- Help you maintain healthy, well-functioning lungs
- Allow you to continue doing all the activities you enjoy
- Give you a restful night’s sleep
- Prevent asthma attacks that could result in a trip to the emergency room
If you’re ready to gain relief from your asthma symptoms, call today or schedule a consultation online with Family Care Specialists Medical Group.