Asthma
Helping you manage and control condition so you can breathe well
Asthma is a lifelong condition in which your airways become narrowed, causing you to cough, wheeze and have difficulty breathing. Asthma worsens when a trigger in the environment causes an asthma attack.
Triggers may include irritants in the environment such as cigarette smoke, allergens or even exercise. Asthma attacks can be fatal if left untreated.
Overview
Indiana University Health Allergy & Asthma physicians will help you manage your asthma by identifying your specific triggers so you can avoid them. We will help you understand how to control your asthma when exposed to triggers.
Symptoms
Common asthma irritants or triggers can include cigarette smoke, pollen, dust, chemical fumes and even pet dander. After you encounter these triggers, you may:
- Start coughing and have trouble stopping
- Experience shortness of breath, where your chest feels tight
- Feel that you cannot breathe deeply enough
- Feel like you cannot catch your breath
- Whistle or squeak when you breathe, called wheezing
These symptoms result from the narrowing of your airways caused by tightened muscles, and increased amounts of mucus and swelling.
If you experience one or more of these symptoms, let your physicians know:
- When the symptom(s) started
- What occurred at the time
- How long you experienced the symptom(s)
This information will help your physician make the best diagnosis and get you the help you need.
Overview
Indiana University Health Allergy & Asthma physicians will help you manage your asthma by identifying your specific triggers so you can avoid them. We will help you understand how to control your asthma when exposed to triggers.
Symptoms
Common asthma irritants or triggers can include cigarette smoke, pollen, dust, chemical fumes and even pet dander. After you encounter these triggers, you may:
- Start coughing and have trouble stopping
- Experience shortness of breath, where your chest feels tight
- Feel that you cannot breathe deeply enough
- Feel like you cannot catch your breath
- Whistle or squeak when you breathe, called wheezing
These symptoms result from the narrowing of your airways caused by tightened muscles, and increased amounts of mucus and swelling.
If you experience one or more of these symptoms, let your physicians know:
- When the symptom(s) started
- What occurred at the time
- How long you experienced the symptom(s)
This information will help your physician make the best diagnosis and get you the help you need.
Treatment
IU Health Allergy & Asthma physicians provide the most advanced knowledge, advice and asthma treatment. Our highly skilled physicians understand that asthma symptoms can have a huge effect on your daily life. We provide comprehensive diagnostic services to identify asthma, its triggers and any associated allergies. With the largest network of specialty physician practices in Indiana, we routinely perform allergy testing to ensure safe exposure to allergens to identify your triggers.
Our physicians work with you to develop a plan for managing your asthma, including when and how to use medicines, avoid triggers and create a safe environment.
IU Health Allergy & Asthma physicians provide the following services to diagnose and treat your asthma:
- Medical history
- Allergy skin testing
- Blood Testing
- Lung Spirometry
- Bronchoprovocation test
- Asthma medicines
- Long-term medicines
- Short-term medicines
- Anti-immunoglobulin E (anti-IgE) injections
- Allergy medicines
- Antihistamines
- Corticosteroids
- Decongestant pills
- Immunotherapy
- Education
Treatment
IU Health Allergy & Asthma physicians provide the most advanced knowledge, advice and asthma treatment. Our highly skilled physicians understand that asthma symptoms can have a huge effect on your daily life. We provide comprehensive diagnostic services to identify asthma, its triggers and any associated allergies. With the largest network of specialty physician practices in Indiana, we routinely perform allergy testing to ensure safe exposure to allergens to identify your triggers.
Our physicians work with you to develop a plan for managing your asthma, including when and how to use medicines, avoid triggers and create a safe environment.
IU Health Allergy & Asthma physicians provide the following services to diagnose and treat your asthma:
- Medical history
- Allergy skin testing
- Blood Testing
- Lung Spirometry
- Bronchoprovocation test
- Asthma medicines
- Long-term medicines
- Short-term medicines
- Anti-immunoglobulin E (anti-IgE) injections
- Allergy medicines
- Antihistamines
- Corticosteroids
- Decongestant pills
- Immunotherapy
- Education
Resources
Learn more about asthma symptoms and managing your asthma from the reputable sources below:
- American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology : This website features a variety of articles on asthma and how to manage it directly from the organization which certifies allergy and asthma physicians.
- American Lung Association : This website has information about controlling asthma and creating asthma friendly environments.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention :This website provides facts and research on asthma in the United States.
- National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute : This website provides facts and research on asthma in the United States.
Resources
Learn more about asthma symptoms and managing your asthma from the reputable sources below:
- American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology : This website features a variety of articles on asthma and how to manage it directly from the organization which certifies allergy and asthma physicians.
- American Lung Association : This website has information about controlling asthma and creating asthma friendly environments.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention :This website provides facts and research on asthma in the United States.
- National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute : This website provides facts and research on asthma in the United States.