Are you or your child often finding it hard to catch your breath? It may be asthma. Asthma is a long-term, chronic lung condition that causes the airway to narrow and inflame. Finding and working with an asthma specialist in San Antonio, TX, can help manage and control symptoms.

Asthma can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, chest tightness, a whistling sound (wheezing) when you breathe out, and shortness of breath. Allergic asthma is the most common type of asthma.

For some people, asthma is a minor nuisance. For others, it can be a major problem that interferes with daily activities and may lead to a life-threatening asthma attack.

Causes of Asthma

Those with a family history of asthma may be more likely to develop it. Many things can cause asthma symptoms, but airborne allergens typically trigger them. Common allergens include dust mites, pollen, pet dander, and mold.

Asthma symptoms that are triggered by non-allergens are called nonallergic asthma. This can be caused by exercise, smoke, pollution, weather, illness, and medications. In some cases, the body’s reaction to strong emotions, such as stress or anxiety, can cause an asthma attack.

Diagnosis

Premier Allergy of Texas has asthma doctors in San Antonio that work with you to find the ideal testing options. Our doctors will go over your family history for signs of asthma or allergies and perform a physical examination to rule out conditions that might have similar symptoms to asthma.

The next step to diagnosis is a noninvasive test to determine lung capacity. This involves breathing into a hollow tube and measuring the amount and speed of air moving through the lungs. Our doctors may also perform a skin test for allergies, an exercise test, or chest x-rays. 

Asthma Treatment

While there’s no direct cure for asthma, an asthma doctor in San Antonio can help you manage your symptoms and prevent future asthma attacks. These treatments can be short-term, long-term, or a combination of both.

Some treatments include:

• Identifying and managing allergy triggers: Your doctor can determine what might be triggering your asthma through testing. The doctor will walk you through managing your life and environment to limit your exposure to triggers and the frequency of asthma attacks.
• Medications: Medications like corticosteroids can prevent and treat airway inflammation caused by asthma. This can also reduce your risk of asthma attacks.
• Immunotherapy: During immunotherapy, your doctor will inject small amounts of an allergen into the bloodstream. This can train the body to react differently to allergens over time.

Symptoms may become more severe and require emergency treatment. See a doctor immediately for:

Start Treating Your Symptoms and Contact a San Antonio Asthma Doctor