Expert Care from a Team of Asthma Doctors

For patients with asthma, breathing without effort is often impossible. The broad-based inpatient and outpatient asthma care services offered by University Hospitals provides adults and children with optimal care and new hope. Asthma is often the result of a respiratory allergy and is much more common in those with the genetic predisposition for allergies. Experts from a variety of medical fields – including allergy and immunology – collaborate to determine the best possible asthma treatment plan for each patient.

Asthma is a long-term disease of the airways of the lung. The airways become sensitive to triggers (allergens and irritants) and narrow, making it hard for air to go in and out of the lungs.

Asthma symptoms include:

• Trouble breathing or shortness of breathe
• Tightness in the chest
• Wheezing or whistling sound when breathing
• Coughing
• Breathing becomes harder and may hurt
• Exercise worsens breathing
• Coughing wakes you up at night

At University Hospitals, we use a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to an asthma diagnosis asthma and rule out other lung disorders. First, we conduct a thorough medical history and physical exam. Then, our asthma specialists may use the following tests to confirm or rule out an asthma diagnosis:

• Spirometry (measurement of breath)
• Allergy testing
• Blood tests
• Bronchoprovocation with methacholine
• Chest X-ray
• Complete pulmonary function tests
• Peak flow monitoring

Once the asthma causes have been determined, our asthma doctor will work with you to find safe and effective asthma treatments that reduce airway inflammation and debilitating asthma symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.