Can Asthma Be Cured?

Asthma is a chronic lung condition that affects over 25 million Americans. While there’s currently no cure for the disease, there are treatment options available that can both manage your symptoms and prevent new ones from occurring.

At Regional Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Center, you can find advanced diagnostic testing services to diagnose underlying asthma. Our asthma expert, Shailee Madhok, MD, offers customized care plans to both treat and prevent asthma attacks.

Understanding asthma

People with asthma experience sudden inflammation in their airways. The lungs also produce excess mucus, which makes breathing more difficult. Asthma can also cause symptoms like:

• Wheezing
• Cough
• Chest pain
• Chest tightness
• Shortness of breath

Some people have only mild asthma symptoms that develop during physical activity, when they have a cold, or when they’re exposed to an allergen. For others, an asthma attack can be severe and potentially life-threatening.

There’s still no clear understanding why some people have asthma and others don’t. Factors that can contribute to this type of lung disease include your genetic background, your immune system function, and your environment.

If you have symptoms of asthma, it’s important that you get an accurate diagnosis right away. Because the condition can be severe, we can get you started on a treatment plan that helps you manage this lifelong condition.

Diagnosing asthma

To determine if your breathing issues relate to asthma or another underlying condition, we offer comprehensive physical exams. Our team also spends time reviewing your personal and family medical history and the type of symptoms you experience.

We offer pulmonary function tests in-office to evaluate how much air you can move in and out of your lungs. Testing is available for adults and children.

Because asthma attacks can be triggered by allergies, you may also need allergy testing. This may involve bloodwork to identify antibodies your immune system makes to fight off an allergy.

We also offer skin allergy testing. During a skin test, our team pricks your skin with small amounts of allergens to see if your body reacts. Typically, a reaction to a substance causes a small, red welt to form on your skin within minutes.

Following a customized asthma care plan

Once we confirm your diagnosis, Dr. Madhok and our team work with you to create the right treatment plan, so you can manage your asthma in the long-term.

You may need to carry an inhaler filled with short-acting medications to treat an acute asthma attack. Medications are also available to prevent an attack. In the event you have a severe asthma attack, it’s important that you seek immediate medical attention at the nearest hospital. We can follow up with an after-care plan to ensure your breathing is stabilized.

If we identify allergies that contribute to your asthma symptoms, we may recommend medications or immunotherapy to reduce your immune system’s response. We can also help you learn how to avoid exposure to certain allergens and develop an emergency treatment plan in the event of an asthma attack.

While we can’t cure asthma, we can help you manage your lung health. Call the Regional Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Center nearest you today to schedule your appointment or book one online.