Asthma Treatment Clinic in Beckley, WV

No one knows exactly what causes asthma. Certain triggers cause asthmatics’ airways to swell (inflame) and narrow, resulting in sticky mucus buildup. Asthma may be caused by genetics, pollution, or modern hygiene standards, but there is not enough evidence to know for sure. Certain factors seem to increase the risk of asthma in some individuals.

People with asthmatic parents are three to six times more likely to develop asthma than those without asthmatic parents. Asthmatics are more likely to suffer from certain allergic conditions, such as atopic dermatitis (eczema) and allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

Infancy and childhood can be affected by respiratory problems. It is possible for children to develop chronic asthma as a result of viral respiratory infections.

You may experience asthma symptoms at work if you have asthma due to exposure to certain elements. Some people can also develop asthma for the first time as a result of exposure to certain dust (industrial or wood dust), chemical fumes, and molds.

The airways are irritated by cigarette smoke. Those who smoke are at a higher risk of developing asthma. People exposed to secondhand smoke or whose mothers smoked during pregnancy are also more likely to suffer from asthma. Read more about the health effects of smoking on asthmatics.

Asthma risks are increased by exposure to ozone (the primary component of smog). There is a greater risk of asthma in people who were born or raised in urban areas.

Overweight or obese children and adults are more susceptible to developing asthma than those at a healthy weight. Experts point to low-grade inflammation in the body caused by excess weight as possible explanations. Compared to patients in a healthy weight range, obese patients require more medication, suffer worse symptoms, and have less control over their asthma.

The condition of asthma is characterized by narrowed and swollen airways and excess mucus production. Breathing becomes difficult, causing coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath when you exhale.

Some people find asthma to be no more than a minor inconvenience but other cases can be more severe with some at risk of life-threatening asthma attacks, interfering with daily activities.

It is not possible to cure asthma, but it is possible to control its symptoms. Tracking your signs and symptoms and adjusting your treatment as necessary is important because asthma often changes over time.

If you experience frequent coughing or wheezing for more than a few days, or if you experience any other symptoms of asthma, consult your doctor. Early asthma treatment may help prevent long-term lung damage and keep the condition from worsening.

To treat asthma effectively, you need to track your symptoms and measure how well your lungs are functioning. Maintaining long-term asthma control, preventing asthma attacks, and avoiding long-term asthma problems are easier when you take an active role in managing your asthma treatment.

Your doctor will help you create a plan for managing your asthma. Using this plan, you will be able to customize your asthma treatment to suit your specific needs. Typically, this will involve keeping a daily asthma diary to record your symptoms. Keeping a record of your asthma symptoms can help you recognize when you need to adjust your treatment plan. A breathing test (lung function test) may be ordered by your doctor periodically. Your asthma may not be under control if your lungs aren’t working properly. It may be necessary to adjust your medications according to the plan you made with your doctor if your lungs aren’t working as well as they should. It will be in your asthma action plan that you will figure out when and how to make adjustments.

Asthma is typically treated with a combination of long-term and quick-relief medications. Maintaining asthma control requires long-term control medications. If you do not have control over your asthma, you may be using a quick-relief inhaler frequently.

Staff at Beckley Internal Medicine work with patients to get their asthma under control with a treatment plan tailored to their needs. We serve patients from Beckley WV, Daniels WV, Bradley WV, Shady Spring WV, Sophia WV, and Macarthur WV.