Welcome to Asthma Basic Health. We are a treatment facility dedicated to educating patients about the symptoms and home care of asthma and providing treatments those who suffer symptoms. If you suffer from asthma or asthmatic symptoms, help is close by. Get the facts about asthma and be informed about getting yourself treated. Read on to learn all about asthma facts and causes.
Affecting as many as 300 million people around the world, asthma is a growing problem. It is a chronic condition characterized by inflamed air passages and the temporary constricting of air passages that transport oxygen from the nose, mouth and lungs. The symptoms of asthma can be caused by irritants or allergens that are breathed in and brought into the lungs which then clog, constrict and cause inflammation in the airways. Among a variety of symptoms, the most common and severe include trouble breathing, coughing and wheezing, tightness in the chest, and shortness of breath. In most cases asthma is treatable and can be managed with proper treatments, but in some rare and severe cases it can be deadly.
Asthma is a chronic disease, which means there is no cure for the disease. However, with proper treatment, the symptoms can be effectively managed and kept under control. Depending on the severity and the role of allergens and kinds of irritants that you experience, there are a variety of treatments available. Because of it's chronic nature, most treatments will be long-term and require close attention. Read more about the different kinds of treatments on our "Asthma Treatments" page. Your doctor can help you decide on the best choice for your condition.
Asthma can affect people of any age, but the majority of people start to experience signs and symptoms of asthma in their childhood. In the United States, over 22 million people suffer from asthma symptoms and nearly 6 million of those are children. In recent years, more people have come to doctors with complaints about asthma and it is a growing disease. Increased cases may be due to environmental factors such as city air pollution. The severity of symptoms and the direct irritant causes can vary significantly from patient to patient.
The symptoms of asthma are brought on by asthma triggers, which can vary on the person. Triggers can include things like airborne allergens (pollen, animal dander, mold), respiratory infections, physical activity, certain medications, strong emotions, allergic reactions to food, severe stress, or changes in the weather.
Triggers don't cause asthma, but they are the triggers for asthma's well known symptoms. The exact cause of asthma or why these triggers affect certain people is not completely known exactly. Doctors and federal research institutions continue to explore for a cure.
There is no exact known cause for asthma, but there are a number of risk factors that can make a person more likely to develop asthma. People who suffer from allergies are much more likely to suffer symptoms of asthma as well. Doctors do not entirely understand the relationship between allergies and asthma, but they are often seen to coexist in patients and exacerbate symptoms. People with the skin condition eczema are also more likely to have the asthma symptoms. Children who have experienced respitory infections during their childhood have an increased risk.
There is a recognized link between genetics and asthma development as well. If a child has one parent, their chances of developing asthma increase by one third. If a child has two parents with asthma, their risk factor goes up dramatically and have about a 75% chance.
There is also a type of condition called occupational asthma which is the development of asthma due to repeated contact with irritants in a workplace. This is usually caused by chemical irritants or industrial dust that some workers can come in contact with in factories or other work sites.
" I was warmly received by the staff and nurses at Asthma Basic Health. They took every comment I made seriously, whether a compliment or a complaint, and were always very understanding. The office hours were really convenient and making appointments were no hassle at all"
"Dr. Koch was really kind and thorough about his examinations. He consistently went over my lung test results and explained everything so it was easy for me to understand. When I asked for advice, he was so patient and took his time to give me his thoughts."
"I wish every medical office was like this clinic. They send you a report after your first visit with everything your doctor talked with you about. Their staff is really good about answering any questions I had."
