Asthma can be connected to a number of respiratory issues such as stuffy nose, allergies, wheezing, and chest pain. It can make life absolutely miserable, and can even be life-threatening if it’s not treated. The ER QuickCare team in Naples, Florida is highly experienced in providing both routine and emergency treatment for asthma. This may include oral medications, IV steroids, and bronchodilators, depending on your specific symptoms and needs.
Asthma is a respiratory condition that affects the bronchi (the airways) inside the lungs. People who suffer from asthma have attacks during which they have difficulty breathing freely due to decreased air flow. For those who suffer from asthma, the condition is always present, but it’s not always active since asthma attacks happen only at certain times.
At the beginning of an asthma attack, the bronchi start to swell — sometimes, almost to the point of being shut off totally. With the airways nearly closed or severely restricted, breathing is a problem. Someone in the throes of an asthma attack may feel as if they’re suffocating. It’s common for people having an asthma attack to wheeze, gasp, cough, and feel a tightness or pain in the chest. An asthma attack also may cause panic, which intensifies the other symptoms.
The causes of asthma attacks may be different for each sufferer. Most people have asthma attack triggers which are fairly consistent. Some of the more common asthma attack triggers may include:
In many cases, allergies and asthma occur at the same time. At ER QuickCare, patients are treated for both allergies and wheezing.
The treatment for asthma depends on several things, including how severe the asthma attacks are and whether there are co-existing conditions. Inhaled medications in the form of bronchodilators frequently are used in asthma treatment. There are two main categories of bronchodilators: preventive use inhalers and rescue use inhalers. The preventive use inhalers typically are used every day, at least once a day, to help prevent future asthma attacks. The rescue use inhalers are used as soon as you realize you’re having an asthma attack. Rescue use inhalers can stop the attack or prevent it from progressing.
Another treatment used at ER QuickCare is IV steroids. IV steroids can be administered right in the ER QuickCare office, and they’re highly effective for asthma sufferers who experience severe asthma attacks. Steroids relieve the inflammation within the bronchi allowing you to breathe freely again. Oral medications also may be prescribed for the treatment of asthma.