Managing Asthma in Murray & West Jordan, UT
Asthma is an immune response affecting your lungs, making it difficult to breathe and get the oxygen your body needs to function. At Allergy Associates of Utah in Murray and West Jordan, Utah, Andrew Smith, MD, MS, and Tara Sarin, MD, have extensive backgrounds in the diagnosis and management of asthma. Schedule your appointment by calling the office nearest you or booking online today.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a common chronic disease that causes lung inflammation and breathing difficulties. More specifically, an asthma attack causes your bronchial tubes to constrict and build-up mucus on their walls. The resulting symptoms include wheezing while breathing, gasping for air, and chest pain.
Some people with asthma experience symptoms at all times. Others get asthmatic symptoms in response to a trigger, which could be an allergen or some other external component in your environment. Common triggers for asthma attacks include:
- Allergens (e.g., pollen, mold, pet dander)
- Exercise
- Stress
- Smoke
- Chemical pollutants
- Cold temperatures
- Certain medications
Because asthma attacks can be life-threatening, it’s important to get a diagnosis for the condition as early as possible. Kids with asthma often exhibit symptoms that seem like other illnesses, like recurrent coughing, chest congestion, and fatigue or tiredness. If you suspect your child has asthma, you should book an appointment for testing at Allergy Associates of Utah.
How is asthma diagnosed?
At Allergy Associates of Utah, Dr. Smith and Dr. Sarin perform extensive testing and evaluations to diagnose you or your child with asthma. As a nationally published expert on asthma and occupational asthma, which comes from exposure to fumes on the job, Dr. Smith routinely uses the latest testing strategies and treatments to help people manage asthma.
During your initial visit, Dr. Smith or Dr. Sarin takes note of your family history, any allergies you have, and other details pertaining to your health. They perform pulmonary function testing to evaluate the extent of your asthmatic symptoms. These tests measure your lungs’ ability to take in oxygen. They may perform the tests a second time after giving you medication to open your airways.
What are my treatment options for asthma?
Dr. Smith and Dr. Sarin generally use a combination of therapies to help patients manage asthma from day to day, prevent attacks, and treat asthma attacks in the moment. While there is currently no definite cure for asthma, your asthma treatment plan might include:
Identifying and avoiding triggers
Identifying the triggers that lead to your asthma attacks, and then avoiding them to the best of your ability, is a key part of managing asthma for many people.
Daily asthma control medications
In some cases, Dr. Smith and Dr. Sarin prescribe medications to take daily to reduce the likelihood of an asthma attack. These include inhaled corticosteroids, oral medications to relax the muscles around the airways, and other medications.
Quick-relief medications
Quick-relief medications are usually in the form of inhalers that you use in the event of an asthma attack. You can also take them before exercise to open your airways for easier breathing.
Allergy medications
If an allergy contributes to your asthma as a trigger, treating the allergy with medications or desensitization can reduce your chances of having an asthma attack.
Enrollment in clinical trials
Allergy Associates of Utah facilitates clinical trials that center around asthma research, which may be an option as part of your treatment if you qualify.
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