Find An Allergist / Immunologist | Pollen Levels | Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology | Annual Meeting   Contact    About AAAAI    Search
Patients & Consumers Conditions En Español Find an Allergist / Immunologist Just for Kids New Research Parent Resources Pollen Levels Publications Request a Speaker School Tools Seniors The Virtual Allergist™ Treatments Donate Now Search by Condition (A-Z) Search by Topic Allergy & Asthma Issues Educational Brochures Elements of Allergy and Asthma Order Public Education Materials Allergy Shots Drug Guide Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT)		Asthma Asthma is a disease characterized by recurrent wheeze, cough, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Asthma may affect up to 10% of the population, particularly in children, and may be triggered by colds, exercise, weather changes, occupational exposures, emotions and smoke exposure, among other factors. Allergists can diagnose asthma by combining history, exam and testing. Breathing tests are often used, and occasionally specialized testing is necessary to diagnose asthma. Allergists can recognize asthma as well as other diseases that can be confused with asthma or may make asthma worse, including gastroesophegeal reflux disease (GERD), sinusitis and vocal cord dysfunction. The majority of asthmatics also have allergies contributing to their disease. Your allergist can also diagnose and treat allergies and help diminish their effect on asthma. Immunotherapy, or allergy shots, can be a very effective additional therapy for asthma. Uncontrolled asthma can lead to missed work or school, emergency room visits, hospitalizations and even death. Need for acute care visits, nighttime awakening, difficulty exercising and frequent need for rescue medications are all signs of uncontrolled asthma. Allergists are experts at recognizing asthma control and directing appropriate treatment and monitoring to minimize both short-term and long-term complications of asthma. An allergist can help you understand how to use your medications properly, talk to you about the importance of taking your medications, and educate you about potential side effects of your asthma meds. Studies have shown that asthmatics who see an allergist take their preventative medications more regularly and show improved measures of asthma control. When to see an allergist: If you suspect you may have asthma, or your asthma has recently gotten worse. If you have allergies that are making your asthma worse. If your asthma has been life-threatening, or required intubation (breathing machine). If your asthma making it difficult to exercise, sleep through the night, or causing you to miss work or school. If you have recently visited the ER or been hospitalized because of your asthma. If you are concerned about the side effects of your asthma medications. If you are using your quick-relief or rescue inhaler more than twice a week for asthma symptoms. If your asthma is not well controlled. Find an Allergist/Immunologist For more on asthma: Diseases 101: Asthma <back>
		© 1996-2009 · All Rights Reserved · American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology Disclaimers and Contact Information · Site Map