Asthma

Texas Multi-Specialty Group

Pulmonologist & Allergists located in Houston, TX & Tomball, TX

If you struggle to breathe because of asthma, you can find help at Texas Multi-Specialty Group. At their offices in Cypress and Houston, Texas, the skilled pulmonology team offers diagnostic testing on-site to evaluate the health of your lungs. You can receive customized, comprehensive care, including prescription asthma inhalers and injectable therapies to prevent asthma attacks. Learn more about treatments available for mild to severe asthma by calling Texas Multi-Specialty Group, or by scheduling an appointment online today.

Asthma Q & A

What is asthma?

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes inflammation in your airways that makes it difficult to breathe.

In adults and children, a variety of environmental factors can trigger an asthma attack, including:

Exercise
Allergens
Chemical irritants

Exposure to irritants or allergies in the air or physical activity causes the tissues in your throat to swell and blocks your ability to breathe. In some cases, the asthma attack is severe enough to require emergency medical treatment to prevent life-threatening complications and death.

What are the symptoms of asthma?

When you have an asthma attack, you may feel tightness in your throat, and notice breathing is more difficult. Other common side effects of asthma include:

Coughing
Wheezing
Chest tightness

Some children develop asthma early on, often before the age of five. In others, asthma can develop due to working around harmful chemicals or because of allergies.

If you have an unexplained, persistent cough or shortness of breath, schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Texas Multi-Specialty Group right away.

How is asthma diagnosed?

The team at Texas Multi-Specialty Group offer pulmonary function testing on-site to confirm your symptoms relate to asthma. One type of test is spirometry, which involves breathing into a machine that measures how much air you can force out of your lungs and how fast.

Your provider may also recommend a methacholine challenge test to diagnose mild to severe asthma. This test involves using spirometry to get a baseline breathing reading before you inhale methacholine through a nebulizer. The challenge test is positive if the medication causes your lung function to decrease by 20% or more.

How is asthma treated?

Treating asthma often requires both short-acting and long-acting medications. When inhaled, short-acting medications quickly reduce inflammation in your airways to help you breathe. Long-acting medications can reduce your risk of experiencing an asthma attack.

The team at Texas Multi-Specialty Group offers injectable maintenance medications to prevent severe asthma, including:

Xolair®
Fasenra®
Nucala
Dupixent®
Cinqair®

Your pulmonologist can also recommend lifestyle changes that reduce your risk for asthma attacks and protect the health of your lungs.

If you need help managing mild to severe asthma, schedule a consultation with the pulmonology team at Texas Multi-Specialty Group. Call the office nearest you or book online today.