Asthma is a chronic disease that can cause attacks of coughing, wheezing, breathlessness, and a tight feeling in the chest. It often starts in childhood but affects people of all ages. There is no cure, but doctors can help patients manage their asthma so they experience fewer and less severe attacks. Keep reading to learn more about this common respiratory condition.

How Do You Know If You Have Asthma?

Though doctors don't know exactly what causes asthma, they have linked it to genetic, environmental, and occupational factors. Many asthma patients begin experiencing symptoms in childhood. But adults can develop occupational or environmental asthma if they are exposed to lung irritants such as dust, mold, or chemicals. 

During a checkup, your doctor will consider your family history of asthma, allergies, and other respiratory issues. He or she may ask you to describe how often you experience tightness in the chest, wheezing, and coughing and whether these symptoms are worse after physical activity or during certain times of the year. Finally, your doctor may conduct a spirometry test to determine how well your lungs function by measuring how much air you are able to inhale. 

What Is an Asthma Attack?

During an asthma attack, airways in the lungs become inflamed, restricting the amount of air that gets to the body. This causes the chest to feel tight, as if someone is sitting on it. It also causes coughing and wheezing. Patients describe the feeling as like trying to breathe through a straw. 

The severity of symptoms can vary from person to person and from attack to attack. Some may only experience infrequent and mild symptoms and only in certain situations such as after exercise or when exposed to a trigger like tobacco smoke. Others may feel asthma symptoms continuously. Severe attacks can be life-threatening and require emergency medical treatment if there is no improvement after using medication like a quick-relief inhaler. 

How Is Asthma Treated?

Your doctor will work with you to create an asthma action plan to help you identify and avoid the irritants and allergens that can trigger an attack. The plan also describes what to do when you experience an attack and when to call your doctor or go to the emergency room. 

Your doctor may prescribe long-term, daily medications to help prevent and control symptoms as well as a quick-relief inhaler to immediately relieve symptoms during an attack. You should carry your inhaler with you at all times.

If you experience asthma symptoms, talk to the knowledgeable and board-certified physicians at Walton Family Medicine PC in Monroe, GA. They have the skills and technology to treat any condition or illness. They provide the same quality care of a large hospital, but with the caring compassion of a neighborhood doctor. Schedule your appointment today by calling them at (770) 267-7093 or visit them online for more information.