Asthma Treatment
At Kirrawee Doctors, we understand that asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that requires comprehensive care and management. Whether you have just been diagnosed or have been living with asthma for years, our team is dedicated to providing personalised treatment plans to help you breathe easier and live a full, active life.
Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition characterised by inflammation of the airways, leading to symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. These symptoms can vary in intensity, from mild to severe, and may be triggered by factors such as allergens, exercise, cold air, or stress. While asthma can affect people of all ages, it often begins in childhood and requires ongoing management to prevent flare-ups.
Asthma treatment aims to control and manage these symptoms, improve lung function, and enhance the individual’s overall quality of life. Treatment plans are typically personalised based on the severity of asthma, triggers, and individual patient needs.
What to Expect
At Kirrawee Doctors, our asthma specialists are dedicated to offering comprehensive asthma care tailored to your unique needs.
Asthma Evaluation
Your first visit will involve a detailed evaluation of your symptoms, medical history, and any know asthma triggers. Our GPs will ask about the frequency and severity of your symptoms, such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. They may also enquire about any past asthma attacks, your current medications, and any environmental or lifestyle factors that may contribute to your condition.
Personalised Asthma Action Plan
Based on the assessment, we will work with you to develop a personalised asthma action plan. This plan is critical for managing asthma effectively. It will outline daily management strategies, including how to use your medications, recognise early signs of an asthma flare-up, and what steps to take during an asthma attack or when symptoms worsen. The plan is designed to empower you with the knowledge and confidence to manage your asthma independently, reducing the risk of severe attacks.
Medication Management
Asthma treatment often involves the use of asthma medications to control symptoms and prevent attacks. You will be provided with a customised medication regimen, which may include:
- Preventative Inhalers: These are used daily to reduce inflammation in your airways and prevent asthma symptoms from occurring.
- Reliever Inhalers: These provide quick relief be relaxing the muscles around your airways during an asthma attack, helping you breathe more easily.
- Combination Inhalers: These may be prescribed if you need both prevention and relief in a single device.
- Oral Medications: For more severe cases, oral medications may be recommended.
When to Book an Appointment
If you experience symptoms such as feeling faint, dizzy, weak, wheezing when breathing in and out, persistent coughing, or have trouble doing routine activities due to feeling breathless, call the friendly staff at Kirrawee Doctors for specialised asthma treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Asthma symptoms can vary from person to person and may range from mild to severe. The most common symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. These symptoms may be triggered by factors such as allergens, cold air, exercise, respiratory infections, or stress. Recognising and managing these symptoms early is crucial to preventing asthma attacks.
Asthma is diagnosed through a combination of medical history, physical examination, and specific tests. At Kirrawee Doctors, our healthcare providers will discuss your symptoms with you and perform a physical examination, which may include listening to your lungs to detect wheezing or other signs of airway obstruction. If necessary, we will refer you to specialists for lung function or allergy testing.
Asthma treatment typically involves a combination of medications and lifestyle changes to control symptoms and prevent attacks. Main treatments include:
- Inhalers: Preventative inhalers reduce airway inflammation, while reliever inhalers provide quick relief during an asthma attack.
- Oral Medications: Such as corticosteroids or leukotriene modifiers for severe asthma.
- Allergy Management: Including allergen avoidance strategies and medications like antihistamines.
- Lifestyle Modifications: Avoiding known triggers, maintaining a healthy weight, and following an exercise plan.
An asthma action plan is a personalised guide that helps you manage your asthma daily and during emergencies. It typically involves how to use your medications and avoid triggers, steps to take if your symptoms worsen, and when to call for advice or an emergency.
Inhalers are a primary tool in asthma management and come in different types, each serving a specific purpose:
- Preventative Inhalers: Contain corticosteroids or other anti-inflammatory medications that reduce inflammation in the airways. Used daily, they help prevent asthma symptoms from occurring.
- Reliever Inhalers: Contain short-acting bronchodilators that quickly relax the muscles around the airways during an asthma attack, providing immediate relief from symptoms like wheezing and shortness of breath.
- Combination Inhalers: Contain both preventative and reliever medications, offering dual benefits in one device.