Asthma Specialist
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Gary Goff MD
Internal Medicine located in Dallas, TX
If you have ever suffered an asthma attack, you know how debilitating and frightening it can be. Asthma is quite common in the United States, affecting roughly 25 million Americans. Fortunately, there is a wide range of effective strategies for managing asthma. At the office of Gary E. Goff, MD, the highly trained team have experience properly diagnosing and treating asthma, helping their patients get back to leading the active and healthy lives that they enjoy. For asthma treatment, call the Dallas office or book an appointment online.
Asthma Q & A
What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic disease that affects your airways. When you have asthma, inflammation in your air passages causes temporary narrowing of these passages, which restricts the ability of air to flow in or out. This sensation can be quite severe during an asthma attack, creating a very uncomfortable and scary situation for you.
What are the symptoms of asthma?
When your air passages become inflamed and narrowed, a range of symptoms can occur. These include:
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Chest pressure or pain
- Shortness of breath
The way you experience these symptoms can vary. Some people with asthma experience these symptoms every day, while others experience them only during exercise. At times they can be quite severe, as during an asthma attack, and often can lead to a trip to the emergency room.
What causes asthma?
While asthma can happen to anybody, there are often certain risk factors which make it more likely that someone will have asthma. These include:
- Gender - asthma occurs more commonly in boys
- Genetics
- The presence of allergies
- Environmental factors such as air pollution and mold
- Smoking
- Obesity
While you cannot control all of these factors, losing weight, quitting smoking, and choosing a healthier environment can all help your asthma. In addition, seeking proper medical care is important to manage your asthma effectively.
What asthma treatments are available?
Fortunately for those who have asthma, there is a number of effective treatments available from the expert medical team at the office of Gary E. Goff, MD. All treatments aim to keep your air passages open so that air can move freely. However, treatments vary in the way that they do this as well as the amount of time that they act for.
Most people are familiar with inhalers. Inhalers deliver steroids or bronchodilating medications in a short time period, alleviating an asthma emergency. Because of their short time frame, these medications are often called rescue medications. Longer-acting medications serve to do the same thing but are not sufficient to be used in an emergency.
Dr. Goff and his expert team utilize their training and extensive experience to create a plan of care built around each patient’s unique needs, helping them effectively manage their asthma symptoms so that they can get back to the activities that they love.
Call the office of Gary E. Goff, MD, or go online today to schedule an appointment to discuss asthma management.
