Phoenix Asthma Symptoms
Asthma is the most common chronic condition amongst children and affects between 6-8% of all Americans. Patients with asthma may experience symptoms of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and/or chest tightness.
At San Tan Allergy & Asthma, we work to provide you with high quality asthma care for those affected by asthma and other respiratory and immune conditions. With a patient centered approach and unique, individualized management, we offer cutting edge technology to get to the bottom of your symptoms so that we are able to give the finest, tailored treatment plans to all of our patients.
Asthma is a chronic condition in both children and adults where the airways or bronchial tubes are inflamed. This means the tubes get swollen and the muscles around the airways can tighten making it difficult to breathe.
There are four primary symptoms of asthma
Coughing
Wheezing
Shortness Of Breath
Chest Tightness
In some children and adults, chronic cough may be the main or only symptom of asthma. Triggers of asthma can include exercise, allergens, respiratory infections, weather changes. Pollution or inhaling irritating fumes/chemicals, and even emotions like laughing or stress.
Our providers diagnose asthma by taking a thorough medical history and performing breathing tests to measure how well your lungs work.
- Many people with asthma also have allergies, so we often perform allergy testing. Treating the underlying allergic triggers for your asthma will help you avoid asthma symptoms.
- There is no cure for asthma, but symptoms can be controlled. This involves taking medications as directed and learning to avoid triggers that cause symptoms. For some patients, allergy immunotherapy (allergy shots) can directly reduce allergy triggers to asthma for the long term.
- Controller medications are taken daily and include inhaled corticosteroids or combination inhalers. These are different from a commonly prescribed quick-relief or rescue medication called Albuterol, which helps to quickly relax and open the airways and relieve symptoms.
- Oral corticosteroids may be required for acute asthma flare-ups or for severe symptoms. Examples include prednisone and methylprednisolone. Also, taking oral corticosteroids more than twice a year for asthma is not ideal and increases the risk of more serious side effects.
- There are also newer medications that treat severe or difficult-to-treat asthma on a regular basis. These are injections and are called biologic medicines. These can potentially reduce how often you feel your asthma symptoms and help decrease the amount of inhaler medicines you need.
- People with asthma are at risk of developing complications from respiratory infections such as influenza and pneumonia. That is why it is important for asthma sufferers, especially adults, to get vaccinated with a pneumonia vaccine (Pneumovax 23), the flu vaccine, and the COVID-19 vaccine in l8ine with the CDC recommendations.
- With proper treatment, you can minimize asthma symptoms and enjoy a better quality of life, staying active and doing the activities you enjoy.
What Causes Asthma?
Although there is no single cause for asthma, allergies seem to play a significant role in at least 2/3 of patients. Genetics and family history are also important. Pollution, environmental tobacco smoke exposure, respiratory infections, and exposure to strong scents or chemicals can also play a role.
There are two major components of asthma that result in the symptoms described above. Inflammation, often caused by allergies, results in swelling and excessive mucous production inside the airways (breathing tubes inside the lungs also called bronchioles). This swelling and mucous makes it difficult to breathe. The inflammation also causes muscles that surround the bronchioles to become “twitchy” so that they contract or squeeze the breathing tubes making it even more difficult to breathe.
Treatment for Asthma Phoenix
Fortunately, most cases of asthma can be controlled. Achieving control requires a comprehensive approach, which includes identification and avoidance of known asthma triggers, and in some cases the use of medications or allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots) to control the inflammation. Skin testing may be performed to identify potential allergic triggers and lung function testing (asthma testing) may be performed to help guide therapy. The providers at San Tan Allergy & Asthma will do their best to formulate a comprehensive treatment plan to control your (or your child’s) asthma.
Patient Testimonials
Staff is professional and always very friendly!
“ After allergy testing, Dr. Shimamoto explained the process and options of allergy injections and answered all my questions. I follow up with Heidi, who is also great! As of now, I’m still doing weekly injections and it’s been easy to get desired appointment day and times. I am happy that I chose San Tan Allergy!”
“Thank you for being Professional and Caring.”
Lisa Blaylock ★★★★★
“ Watch out for telemedicine appointments. Make sure you have pre-screened for them. Worked with Jackie over the phone. She is fantastic–super patient and professional. Had exam and skin tests ordered by Dr. Shimamoto. He’s happy and efficient. Great practice, just need to be patient with all the delays and possible miscommunications due to all the pandemic-imposed restrictions.”
E. M. ★★★★★
“ Everything was so nice. The reception in the front desk of the best. I didn’t have a appointment. And they look and got me one next day. Two girl in the other office were also so nice. My son goes there. I’m from El paso and I was very impressed. Thanks again.”
Rita Romo ★★★★★
Treatment for Asthma Phoenix
When you are being treated at San Tan Allergy and Asthma, Dr. Shimamoto bring empathy and professionalism to their field. A member of the American College of Allergy & Immunology, and a Phoenix Top Doc for over ten years, Dr. Shimamoto strives to provide excellent patient care for everyone with the help of our excellent Physician Assistants in Phoenix.
Schedule Your Asthma Testing Appointment Today
If you are seeking treatment for asthma, we would be happy to schedule you for an appointment so we may perform asthma testing and assess your asthma symptoms. We offer a variety of allergy and asthma services in the valley, including skin allergy treatment near Mesa, Phoenix asthma testing, food sensitivity testing near Chandler, as well as care for patients in Tempe, Queen Creek, Phoenix, and more! Contact the Gilbert asthma and allergy doctors at San Tan Allergy & Asthma to schedule an appointment.
For more information visit any of the following sites:
Allergy and Asthma Network, Mothers of Asthmatics
American Lung Association
American Acadamy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI)
American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI)
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