Asthma is an inflammatory lung condition that makes the airways hypersensitive to irritants. When an irritant enters your airways, three things happen: The airways swell up, they produce excess mucus, and the muscles lining the airways tighten.

As a result, your airways narrow, and you have a hard time breathing. That’s when you have an asthma attack.

Asthma attacks typically come and go when an irritant triggers your airways. However, the frequency and severity of asthma attacks vary for each person.

When you have an asthma attack, you experience one or more of the following:

• Chest pain or tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Cough (that’s usually worse at night)
• Fatigue or weakness when exercising
• Tiredness or irritability
• Difficulty sleeping

You may also experience symptoms such as congestion, a runny nose, and a sore throat.

If you have allergies, there’s a good chance they trigger asthma flare-ups. However, many different irritants can affect your airways. A few examples include:

• Pollen
• Dust mites
• Animal dander
• Mold spores
• Cold air
• Stress
• Second-hand tobacco smoke
• Respiratory infections (common cold or flu)

Many people experience an asthma attack when they get physically active.

After reviewing your symptoms and completing a physical exam, your provider performs lung function testing such as spirometry. If that testing doesn’t clearly diagnose asthma, your provider may perform a fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) test.

During FeNO testing, you exhale into a mouthpiece, and your breath goes into a machine that measures the amount of nitric oxide gas. The test shows the amount of inflammation in your airways, which helps to diagnose asthma and guide treatment decisions.

DFW Asthma & Allergy Center customizes your asthma treatment to manage your symptoms, prevent future asthma attacks, and reduce your need for medication. Your treatment plan may include:

Identifying and avoiding asthma triggers
Your provider helps identify your triggers and develop a plan to avoid them or diminish their impact.

Taking medications
Everyone with asthma needs a quick-relief medication that they inhale at the first sign of an asthma attack. The medication rapidly opens your airways so you can breathe normally.

You may also need to take a daily medicine that prevents or reduces the severity of future asthma attacks. If you have moderate to severe allergic asthma that inhaled corticosteroids cannot control, your provider may recommend XOLAIR® injections.

If you or your child experience asthma symptoms, call DFW Asthma & Allergy Center or book an appointment online today.