Possible Risk Factors That Need More Research
Experts aren’t yet sure:
- About the effect that pets in the home have on getting asthma. A review of several studies found that having a pet cat appeared to protect against asthma, while pet dogs slightly increased the risk of asthma. The effect of other furry pets on the risk of asthma was not clear.footnote 8 If your child already has asthma and allergies to pets, having a pet in the home may make his or her asthma worse.
Signs You May Need To See An Asthma Specialist
If your asthma is very mild or well-controlled, you may only need to rely on your primary care physician. Many people with asthma in the United States have their asthma treated by a primary care provider, and most of the time, youll get pretty good care, says Dr. Goldsobel. But if youre experiencing persistent asthma attacks or your symptoms are reoccurring frequently, you may need an asthma specialist. If any of these scenarios apply to you, you should seek the care of an allergist-immunologist or a pulmonologist:
- Your symptoms arent well controlled, arent getting better with treatment, or are negatively affecting your quality of life.
- Youre getting injectable or oral steroids more than once or twice a year. This is not considered good control, says Rambasek.
- Youre hospitalized or have to go to urgent care or the emergency room for asthma three times a year or more.
- You experience side effects from asthma medication, such as growth suppression , oral thrush, emotional changes, osteoporosis, or weight gain.
To find an asthma specialist, check out the AAAAI website, which lists providers by region. Your primary care physician may also be able to offer recommendations. When searching for an asthma doctor, look for someone who is board-certified , and if possible, try to find someone who is appropriate for your age group .
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Allergy And Immunology Is The Area Of Medicine Dedicated To The Care And Treatment Of Health Concerns And Conditions Of The Immune System Including Allergic Disease And Related Symptoms And Reactions From Asthma Rhinitis Sinus Problems Or Seasonal Allergies To Life
Allergy and immunology is the area of medicine dedicated to the study, diagnosis, and treatment of immune system conditions, including allergic disease and related symptoms and reactions issues that affect many millions of Americans.
We continue to see significant advancements in the allergy and immunology in both our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of allergic disease and our approaches to managing these conditions, says Castle Connolly Top Doctor Sebastian Lighvani, MD, director of New York Allergy & Asthma, PLLC Clinical Assistant Professor at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City and attending physician at Lenox Hill Hospital, North Shore, New York.
In this era of precision medicine, our ability to tailor therapies for individual patients, along with biologic agents such as monoclonal antibodies, will revolutionize the management of difficult-to-treat conditions such as severe asthma, hives, eczema, nasal polyps, and food allergy, says Dr. Lighvani.
Another growing area of research is the use of immunotherapies in the management of life-threatening food allergies, Dr. Lighvani adds. Current treatments largely focus on avoiding allergenic foods and treating systemic reactions, but there will be more options in the not-so-distant future. Oral, sublingual, and epicutaneous immunotherapies will likely become mainstream, allowing patients to ingest allergenic foods without the risk of severe systemic reactions.
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Asthma Treatments In Nyc
The medication prescribed depends on your age, symptoms, and factors that trigger your asthma. Asthma treatment may involve long-term drugs that you would generally take daily, making it less likely to have an asthma attack. All asthma symptoms should be evaluated by your physician for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan and to exclude any severe condition.
Finding The Best Inhaler
Ultimately, the best asthma inhaler brands will all bring you relief from your symptoms. Opinions regarding long acting asthma inhalers vary. Certain sufferers prefer natural long-term treatments and carry a short acting asthma inhaler with them for emergencies, and before fast-paced activities.
In order to find the best inhaler for your individual condition, seek the assistance of a talented doctor with the help of PlushCare. A physician will take you through a real-time video diagnosis, prescribing the perfect inhaler for your asthma before sending your prescription to the pharmacy of your choice. Pick up is easy and convenient so book and appointment today and get relief from your asthma.
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How To Choose An Asthma Specialist
If you have asthma, youll want to find an asthma specialist who has the skills and experience to help prevent and treat your asthma symptoms. There are many types of doctors who care for people with asthma. You may not have to look any further than your own primary care doctor or your childs . Read on for some simple tips to help you choose the right asthma specialist for you.
Questions Your Doctor Will Ask
In addition to the above information, you can expect your doctor to ask a number of questions, such as:
- Do you smoke?
- Are you regularly exposed to secondhand smoke?
- Do you work around dust or other pollutants?
- Do you cough up mucus? If so, what color is it?
- Do you get short of breath easily?
- How long has this been going on?
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Asthma Attack Treatment For Quick Relief
Your doctor or primary care physicians may also prescribe asthma attack treatment in the form of an inhaler for short-term symptom relief. These inhaled medications work quickly to relieve symptoms and can be an effective short-term asthma breathing treatment.If your long-term asthma treatment is working effectively, it shouldnt be necessary to use quick-acting asthma attack treatment inhalers frequently.
Our physicians will work with you closely to create an effective asthma plan, outlining when to take specific medications and when to increase or decrease the dosage based on symptoms. It is essential to review this plan regularly for example, if you find an asthma cough treatment ineffective, the symptoms can change over time.
Types Of Severe Asthma
There are two main categories of severe asthma Type-2 inflammation and Non-Type-2 inflammation. These categories are based on a persons response to treatment. Type-2 inflammation includes allergic asthma and eosinophilic asthma and Non-Type-2 inflammation includes non-eosinophilic asthma. For example, allergic asthma and e-asthma respond to treatment with inhaled corticosteroids and IgE -directed therapy or other biologics listed in the above table. Patients with Non-Type-2 inflammation, including non-eosinophilic asthma, generally do not respond well to inhaled corticosteroids. Allergic asthma and e-asthma have distinct biomarkers and treatment options available today. Treatments for non-eosinophilic asthma are currently being development.
Allergic asthma is caused by exposure to allergens such as pollen, pet dander, molds, etc. Most people diagnosed with allergic asthma will also have a diagnosis of hay fever or rhinitis. For these patients, exposure to allergens causes the bodys immune system to produce immunoglobulin E, an antibody that attaches to certain cells and causes them to release chemicals creating an allergic reaction. When this happens, common symptoms are sneezing, itchy/watery eyes, severe allergic reactions , and increased airway sensitivity.
Non-eosinophilic asthma includes neutrophilic, smooth-muscle mediated and mixed cells. People in this subgroup have few to no eosinophils in test results, and do not respond well to inhaled corticosteroids.
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Differences Between A Dermatologist And An Allergist
Even if something gives us an allergic reaction, most of us cant help ourselves from enjoying the allergen such as eating certain foods, petting furry animals, or hanging out with friends in the pollution-filled city.
Once you have an allergic reaction, your skin may start to get reddish and patchy. Perhaps youre suddenly getting this reaction, and youve never been allergic before.
But who should you visit to have this treated, a dermatologist or an allergist? Lets take a look at these two different types of medical specializations and who would be best to diagnose and treat your sudden skin reaction.
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What Are The Signs Of Asthma
Many people first receive an asthma diagnosis after an asthma attack. In a severe asthma attack, you feel like you cant breathe or cant get enough air. Sudden asthma attacks, or exacerbations, can last from a few minutes to days. If left untreated, asthma attacks can be dangerous.
While asthma is a lifelong disease, most people have periodic attacks separated by symptom-free periods. People with asthma may experience:
- Coughing, especially at night or in the early morning
- Wheezing
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What Prescriptions Can Plushcare Doctors Write For Asthma
Common inhalers PushCare doctors prescribe are: Short acting inhalers used for the immediate treatment of an asthma attack: Albuterol, ProAir HFA, Ventolin and Xopenex. Long acting inhalers suppress symptoms of asthma and improve your lung capacity over time: Flovent, Advair, Symbicort and Theophylline.
Tests For Other Diseases
Asthma can be hard to diagnose because the symptoms vary widely. And asthma-like symptoms can also be caused by other conditions, such as a viral lung infection or a vocal cord problem. So your doctor may want to do one or more extra tests.
- More lung function tests may be needed if your doctor suspects another lung disease, such as COPD.
- An electrocardiogram might be done to rule out serious conditions with similar symptoms, such as chronic heart failure. This test measures the electrical signals that control the rhythm of your heartbeat.
- A bronchoscopy test can be done to examine the airways for problems such as tumours or foreign bodies. This test uses a long, thin, lighted tube to look at your airways.
- Biopsies of the airways can be done to look for changes that point to asthma.
- A chest X-ray may be used to look for signs of other lung diseases, such as fibrous tissue caused by chronic inflammation .
- Blood tests, such as a complete blood count , may be done to look for signs of an infection or other condition.
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Childhood Asthma Risk Factors
Asthma is the leading cause of long-term illness in children. It affects about 7 million kids in the United States. Those numbers have been going up, and experts arenât sure why.
Most children have their first symptoms by age 5. But asthma can begin at any age.
Things that can make a child more likely to have asthma include:
- Exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke before or after birth
- African-American or Puerto Rican descent
- Being raised in a low-income environment
What Can You Expect When You See An Allergist
An allergist or immunologist will often interview their patient, perform a physical examination, and then run a series of sensitivity/allergy tests. They can help you create an asthma action plan and identify necessary medications, including emergency rescue medications.
An asthma action plan contains basic information like your name and any medications you take. The plan should also include what to do when an asthma attack occurs and when to seek medical attention. Writing this plan out provides peace of mind knowing that you have an emergency course of action.
An allergist may also conduct lung function tests known as spirometry. If the spirometry data indicates poor lung function, your allergist may refer you to a pulmonologist for further evaluation. For some asthma cases, either type of doctor may recommend daily at-home spirometry so that they can monitor your spirometry data over time.
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Find An Asthma Specialist Near You
The information provided is for informational purposes only and is not meant to replace your doctor’s medical advice or information from your plan about preferred doctors.
You may search by ZIP code. Any information you provide is used solely to help you find a physician. It will not be disclosed to third parties. Please note: This list is pulled from a publicly available nationwide database of doctors who have indicated their specialty. While it is updated regularly, this list may not have the latest provider information and results shown may not reflect all of the asthma specialists in your area.
Inclusion of a physician is not and does not imply a referral, an endorsement, or a recommendation by GSK. Doctors included in this list have not endorsed GSK or any of its products. Participation by physicians in payer networks may vary. You should verify a physician’s participation/acceptance of your health insurance. Users of this website are solely responsible for communications and interactions with any of the listed physicians, and any information users send them is not governed by our Legal Notice and Privacy Policy. Users are responsible for compliance with state and federal laws regulating physician referrals, such as anti-kickback laws, the Stark Law, or state professional practice restrictions.
Differences Between A Pulmonologist And An Allergist
Should I see an allergist or a pulmonologist for my asthma? Asking this question about what causes asthma can help determine which specialist might have expertise that would help you. A doctor specializing in allergies is called an allergist, while one who focuses specifically on lung problems and other conditions related to respiratory is known as a pulmonologist. Its essential that you find out their specialty to determine best which type of specialist would be most appropriate for your needs.
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Atopic And Contact Dermatitis/hives/skin Allergies
Atopic and contact dermatitis, eczema and hives are skin conditions that can be caused by allergens and other irritants. Often the reaction may take hours or days to develop, as in the case of poison ivy. The most common allergic causes of rashes are medicines, insect stings, foods, animals and chemicals used at home or work. Allergies may be aggravated by emotional stress.
How To Treat Severe Asthma
Once your asthma specialist has determined the type of severe asthma you are suffering from, they can tailor treatment based on your specific type. Basic treatment for severe persistent asthma consists of inhaled corticosteroids. Additional long-term controller medicines, such as long-acting beta 2 agonists , montelukast or theophylline, are added if asthma is still uncontrolled. Oral corticosteroids can be added on to treatment if patients are still experiencing symptoms and flare-ups.
A personalized treatment plan may include:
Macrolide AntibioticsMacrolide antibiotics are used to help the body fight infection. These medicines control the number of white blood cells found in your airways. One study showed positive results using macrolide antibiotics in people with high counts of neutrophils in blood or sputum samples. Doctors dont suggest these medications be used long term though because side effects, such as antibiotic resistance, can be very serious.
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Whats The Difference Between A Pulmonologist And An Allergist
While seeing an allergist is usually a good idea, your allergist should not take the place of a pulmonologist if you or a loved one is living with asthma. Allergists, also called immunologists, are important because most of the asthma patients they treat are triggered primarily by allergies. Allergists have the therapies to treat your allergy-triggered asthma, too.
Pulmonologists are essential to proper lung care for people living with asthma because this type of provider specializes in every condition that affects your lungs, your upper respiratory system, your chest, or thoracic cavity, and your chest wall. Like allergists, pulmonologists can help you pin the cause of your asthma symptom triggers, and provide a comprehensive treatment plan to keep you healthy.
Choosing a pulmonologist from our team of providers means that we will give you an accurate and thorough diagnosis, and make sure that you deeply understand how your body is reacting, and how to treat your symptoms. There is no cure for asthma, but careful management and consistent therapy is the key to living a fun and active life.
Paying For Your Medicines
Most adults with asthma will need to pay a prescription charge for their medicines.
If you need to take a lot of medicines, paying for each item individually could get quite expensive. You may find it cheaper to get a prescription prepayment certificate. This is where you pay a one-off charge for all your prescriptions over a 3- or 12-month period.
You will not need to pay for your medicines if you do not normally pay prescription charges. For example, all under-16s are entitled to free prescriptions.
Read more about prescription costs to find out if you’re entitled to help with your prescription charges.
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Asthma Care By New Yorks Dr Shukla
The best time to deal with an asthma attack is before you have one. That means seeing an asthma doctor if you think you might have asthma but are currently undiagnosed.
Frequent coughing and wheezing that lasts for several days may be an early indicator that you have the condition. Take this online control test to find out if your asthma is under control or needs more care.
Working with an asthma doctor like Dr. Shukla is important to managing your asthma over the long term. He or she may prescribe various treatments, including daily medications and the use of rescue inhalers for sudden asthma attacks.
If your asthma symptoms get worse over time, contact your asthma doctor for an appointment. It is not uncommon for the condition to change over time, and various treatments may be needed as your symptoms change.
- No improvement after using rescue inhaler
- Shortness of breath despite relative inactivit
Dr. Shukla specializes in the treatment of asthma and other pulmonary conditions. If you think you may have asthma, or you feel your condition is getting worse,