Defining Asthma!
Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways in the lungs. The airways allow air to flow in and out of the lungs. When a person has asthma, the lining of the airways is inflamed or swollen, and may have increased mucus production. At times, the muscles around the outside of these swollen airways may tighten, making it much more difficult to move air in and out of the lungs. This causes symptoms of asthma, which include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
What Causes Asthma Flare-ups?
When a person with asthma experiences the muscle tightening and narrowing of their airways, this produces a flare-up of asthma symptoms. But what can cause these flare-ups to happen? An asthmatic’s airways can be easily irritated by many different things, identified as triggers. These triggers include allergies, exertion or exercise, strong smells and odors, viral or bacterial infections, weather changes, stress and even some medications.
Contact Allergy & Clinical Immunology for Asthma Diagnosis & Symptom Care!
The allergists at Allergy & Clinical Immunology have the special expertise needed to diagnose asthma and provide you with an individualized plan designed to control your asthma, as well as identifying your triggers. Contact us today by calling either our Western PA location at (412) 833-8811 or our Washington County PA location at (724) 228-7710.