Asthma
Carroll Family Medicine LLC
Family Medicine & Aesthetics located in Hampstead, MD
Do you have trouble breathing? If so, you might be living with asthma, a condition that directly impacts your body’s airways. Fortunately, Carroll Family Medicine LLC offers asthma diagnosis and treatment from the comfort of their Hampstead, Maryland, office. To figure out what’s causing your breathing difficulties and to put a stop to them, call them or schedule your appointment online.
Asthma Q & A
What is asthma?
Asthma is a condition that limits the amount of air your airways are able to bring into your lungs. It can cause excess mucus building up your airways, narrow the airways, or both.
Asthma varies in its severity from person to person. Some people only experience minor asthma, often triggered by physical activity (i.e., exercise-induced asthma). For others, asthma is a constant that prevents them from feeling like they’re able to catch their breath on a regular basis.
The most common symptom of asthma is shortness of breath. Some of the other symptoms, often resulting from this primary symptom, include:
- A feeling of tightness in the chest
- A wheeze or whistle when breathing out
- Trouble sleeping
- Regular coughing or sneezing
What causes asthma?
Asthma can be caused by a number of different things. Some people have asthma triggered by exercise or allergies. Others develop it with a respiratory infection or when they’re stressed. Understanding your asthma triggers helps you use preventive treatment as needed to keep your airways clear. And Carroll Family Medicine offers asthma diagnosis with that goal in mind.
How is asthma diagnosed?
In order to diagnose your asthma, Carroll Family Medicine offers in-office spirometry. This is a fast, noninvasive diagnostic procedure that allows them to see your lungs and airways are working.
During this test, you sit comfortably with a clip over your nose to keep it closed. You take a deep breath, then breathe out as hard as you can into a tube. This tube reads how much air you can expel and how quickly, giving Carroll Family Medicine a clear picture of your lung capacity and function. With that information, they tailor your asthma treatment.
How is asthma treated?
There are a number of different asthma treatments offered at Carroll Family Medicine. They may offer you a quick-relief inhaler to use when you feel you can’t catch your breath. Or they might prescribe you a medication to keep your asthma managed over time. Their goal is to ensure you’re always able to take a deep, comfortable breath with ease.
Breathing troubles don’t have to plague you. Call Carroll Family Medicine or book your appointment online to get your asthma diagnosis and treatment.