Asthma affects more than 24.5 million Americans. More than six million children under the age of 18 have asthma. Another 50 million Americans have all types of allergies – pollen, skin, latex and more. The rate of allergies continues to climb making awareness for these common diseases all the more important.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is characterized by inflammation of the bronchial tubes with increased production of sticky secretions inside the tubes. People with asthma experience symptoms when the airways tighten, inflame, or fill with mucus. Common asthma symptoms include:
A person may not have all of these symptoms or they may experience different symptoms at different times. It is important to talk with your medical provider if you are experiencing any symptoms.
Is it Asthma?
You most likely know the common symptoms of asthma, like shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing. But did you know there are other respiratory illnesses with similar symptoms? Some of them include:
- Pneumonia
- Allergies
- Viral infections
- Sinus infection
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Recurrent cough not due to asthma
If you have symptoms of asthma, it is important to be properly diagnosed. A physician may use a few different ways of testing for asthma. These include taking a detailed medical history, physical examination, lung function tests and chest or sinus x-rays.
If you are on a treatment plan for asthma but the treatment does not seem to be working, you might not have asthma or you may need a different type of asthma medicine. At Newman Regional Health, we have a number of providers who can diagnosis asthma and help you develop a treatment plan.
Allergic Asthma
Of the estimated 24 million people in the U.S. living with asthma, 60 percent of adults and 80 percent of children have asthma triggered by allergies. This is also known as allergic asthma.
For people with allergic asthma it is very important to avoid exposure to the allergens which trigger their asthma. Common triggers are food allergies, pollen, dust mites and pet dander. It is important to work with your medical provider to identify triggers and create a treatment plan to keep your allergies and asthma under control.
Get Symptoms Under Control
May is a peak season for those with asthma and allergies which means knowing the things that trigger your allergy and asthma symptoms is necessary. By limiting exposure and working with your medical provider you can get asthma and allergy symptoms under control.
Allergy and asthma symptoms can change over time and you may need to adjust your treatment accordingly. Learn the signs that your asthma may be flaring up and check in with your doctor on a regular basis. Request an appointment through our website or give us a call at 620-343-6800 to meet with your provider to discuss asthma and allergy treatment today. For a list of Newman Regional Health providers click here.