Asthma Treatment Clinic in Yukon OK

Asthma is a medical condition that makes it hard to breathe by causing the airways to swell and narrow, making it difficult for air to get through. In addition to making it difficult to breathe and causing shortness of breath, sufferers can also experience coughing and wheezing. Some people find their asthma to be a minor inconvenience while other people can suffer from serious asthma attacks that interfere with their daily lives and can have life-threatening consequences. The exact cause of asthma is unknown but it is believed to be the result of environmental factors or genetics or a combination of both. Each person who has asthma has their own unique set of triggers and their body reacts to these triggers differently, causing asthma symptoms. Asthma triggers can include allergens such as pollen, pet dander, mold spores, dust mites, air irritants, and pollutants such as smoke, sulfites, and preservatives found in food and drinks and certain medications. Asthma symptoms can also be triggered by physical activity, cold air, stress and strong emotions, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

There is no cure for asthma, however with the right treatment, it can be managed to avoid triggering an asthma attack or having the right medication on hand to combat an attack should one happen. Understanding what your triggers are is the first step to proper management of the condition and working with your doctor or an asthma specialist will help determine those triggers. Once you know them, you will need to try to avoid them. Not all triggers can be avoided though and patients may need to take daily preventative medication to reduce the number of asthma attacks they have and the severity of the symptoms when they do have an attack. A reactive medication will also typically be prescribed, usually in the form of an inhaler, to be kept on hand should an asthma attack happen. An inhaler is used during an attack to open up the airways and provide quick relief from asthma symptoms and allow the sufferer’s breathing to return to normal. Asthma medication needs can change over time, so continuous monitoring of the effectiveness of the medication, how often emergency inhalers are needed, and how often asthma attacks are happening can help determine when the medications need to be adjusted.

If you have asthma, you should do your best to avoid the allergens or activities that trigger your asthma symptoms, particularly if you have severe asthma. You and your doctor will work together to determine what your triggers are that either cause you to have asthma symptoms or worsens existing symptoms. It is important to have an action plan on how to avoid these triggers and know what to do when you are exposed to one and experience an asthma attack. Depending on the types of triggers and the severity of your symptoms when coming into contact with them, daily preventative medication may be prescribed by your doctor to help you keep your asthma under control. A reactive medication will also typically be prescribed to have on hand for emergencies.

There is no one simple trigger that causes people to get asthma. Symptoms of asthma can develop at any age for no apparent reason, particularly if there is no family history of asthma. It is a medical condition that develops only in some people, but whether it is due to genetics or environmental factors, there is no concrete answer as to why or how it only affects some people. Some factors seem to increase the likelihood of a person developing asthma, such as a family member having it, smoking, being overweight, suffering from allergies, second-hand smoke exposure, exposure to pollution or exhaust fumes, and exposure to chemicals used in certain occupations like hairdressing, farming, and manufacturing. Our team of medical professionals at Immediate Care of Oklahoma help treat patients with asthma. If you have asthma or have questions, then we encourage you to reach out to us today. We also accept walk-ins.

For more information, contact us today to book an appointment. We serve patients at seven convenient locations in OKC near Del City and Midwest City, West Moore, South Oklahoma City, Edmond, Yukon, Tecumseh (near Shawnee), and Norman, OK. Looking forward to serving you!