Asthma Treatment in Madison, AL

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that makes it difficult for air to pass through your lungs properly. It can start at any age and nearly 26 million Americans have asthma, 7 million of them being children. Unfortunately, there is no cure of asthma. However, with proper management, people living with asthma can live completely normal and healthy lives without asthma.

Madison Medical Associates offers complete diagnosis and treatment for asthma in individuals living in the Madison area. Our team specializes in preventitive care at our wellness clinic in Madison, AL. If you are located in or around Decatur and Huntsville, please call (256) 325-1160 to schedule your consiltation today.

What Causes Asthma?

The swollen airways in the lungs become sensitive to certain triggers, and when those triggers enter the body, those airways create extra mucus making it difficult to breathe which leads to asthma attacks, complications and sometimes death. The key is to understand the triggers that cause asthma. Sometimes, you may not even know you have it until you’re exposed to those triggers. This means the environment you live in is a huge cause and risk factor of asthma. Additionally, genetics is a risk factor for asthma.

What Are the Symptoms of Asthma?

If you believe you may have asthma, but are unsure if it’s something else, contact Madison Medical Associates for diagnosis. If any of these symptoms occur chronically or only around certain triggers, you may have asthma:

• Tight feeling in the chest
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing
• Wheezing

However, it’s very possible a variety of other conditions are causing these symptoms, such as different allergies. Consult with your provider about whether or not you have asthma.

 How is Asthma Diagnosed and Treated?

Your provider will need to conduct tests to diagnose your individual case of asthma. First, they will ask symptoms, medical history, experiences, etc. to get a good sense if asthma is a possibility. After that, the most common test is called a Spirometry, in which your doctor will use a device to measure the air flow of the lungs.

Typically, if you have the the above symptoms, have a parent with asthma and also has allergies (including skin allergies), your provider will conduct a lung functioning test. After that, usually, a trial period of asthma medication will be given, depending on the results, with a follow-up appointment to monitor the outcome.