Asthma is a widespread lung condition that affects a large number of Americans. It involves the inflammation of your body’s airways, resulting in narrowing airway passages and making it hard or uncomfortable to breathe. A severe onset or “asthma attack” may include periods of intense coughing, chest tightening, wheezing, or a struggle to breathe. Luckily for some, asthma can often be allergy-related, and the specialists at Advanced Allergy & Asthma Associates specialize in identifying the underlying causes of allergy symptoms. They can help you understand what may be causing asthma attacks and help you develop a treatment plan suited to your needs.
Learn How Asthma Works
Your airways are hollow tubes encased in muscle. Those muscles will expand and contract when functioning healthily, regulating the airflow that moves in and out of your body. Healthy airways are thin and coated with a small amount of mucus.
The source of asthmatic symptoms lies primarily in the fact that their airways are inflamed continuously. The inflammation may not always cause symptoms, but it sensitizes the tissues in your lungs, and allergens may cause the muscles to tighten and restrict airflow more than usual. That may also produce excess mucus, making it even harder to breathe.
Controlling the symptoms
Depending on your goals and the severity of your symptoms, there are a wide variety of treatment options, including:
- Identifying asthma-inducing allergen triggers and controlling exposure
- Inhalable medications that may control symptoms
- Emergency inhalers can stop symptoms of an attack
One of the most basic measures in controlling allergy-induced asthma attacks is identifying the triggers causing your allergic reaction. The skilled physicians at Advanced Allergy & Asthma Associates and Food Allergy Center of Illinois use advanced scientific testing to identify the specific allergens affecting you accurately. With that information, you can control your asthma by developing an approach to treatment that suits your goals and lifestyle.
To schedule an appointment for a consultation at either our Elgin or Crystal Lake, IL location, call (847) 888-8802
