Asthma

What is asthma?

Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory lung disease that causes recurrent breathing problems. An asthma attack makes your airways swollen and inflamed. The muscles around your airways contract and produce extra mucus, making your bronchial tubes more narrow.

An asthma attack causes coughing, wheezing, and trouble breathing. Asthma attacks range from minor, where your symptoms get better with prompt home treatment, to more serious. A severe asthma attack that doesn't improve with home treatment can become a life-threatening emergency. There is no cure for asthma, but Dr. Ziegner helps control the symptoms.

For some, asthma flare-ups only occur under certain situations:

• Exercise-induced asthma -- often worsened by cold, dry air
• Occupational asthma --  triggered by irritants including chemical fumes, gases, and dust
• Allergy-induced asthma -- triggered by airborne substances including pollen, mold spores, cockroach waste, skin particles and pet dander

What are the symptoms of asthma?

The symptoms of asthma include:

• Shortness of breath
• Chronic cough, especially at night,
• Chest tightness
• Noisy breathing, whistling, or wheezing

Symptoms tend to get worse when you contract respiratory viruses, such as a cold or the flu.

How is asthma treated?

Asthma is an underdiagnosed disease and many people do not know they have it. Instead, some people believe they are suffering from recurrent bronchitis because respiratory infections tend to settle in your chest if you are asthmatic.

Once Dr. Ziegner diagnoses you with asthma, she recommends avoiding your triggers and taking your medication as prescribed. There are two types of asthma medicines -- one is a long-term control and the other is a short-term or quick-relief medication.

If Dr. Ziegner prescribes long-term control medications you need to take it every day in order to control your asthma symptoms. Short-term medications calm your asthma symptoms quickly. However, quick-acting medicines only last for a short time. Dr. Ziegner prescribes both as warranted.

If you experience coughing, wheezing, breathlessness, and chest tightness call or make an appointment online today with Dr. Ulrike Ziegner at Riviera Allergy Medical Center in Redondo Beach, California to help improve your quality of life.