Asthma Treatment Specialist in Clio, MI

Asthma is a health condition where your airways can narrow and swell and can produce extra mucus. This makes breathing very difficult and triggers wheezing and coughing when you breathe out and also causes shortness of breath. For some, asthma is a minor problem. For others, this can be a major problem that will interfere with daily activities. This can lead to life-threatening asthma attacks.
 
Asthma is not curable, but the symptoms are controllable. Asthma, as a condition, can change over time. So, it is important that you track your signs and symptoms, adjust your treatment as necessary and work with your doctor to determine what path is right for you.
 
Asthma is placed into two categories based on the cause and severity of symptoms. Asthma will be defined as:
 
• Intermittent – this type of asthma will come and go and you will often feel normal between attacks.
 
• Persistent – this type of asthma means you have symptoms much of the time. Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Healthcare providers will base the severity on how frequently you have symptoms. They will also consider how you function during an attack.

Asthma symptoms will be different in each person. Asthma attacks can be infrequent and people may only have symptoms at certain times. Or a person may have asthma symptoms all of the time.
 
There are some common signs and symptoms of asthma, these include shortness of breath, wheezing when exhaling, chest tightness or pain, trouble sleeping due to shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing, which can worsen with respiratory infections or the flu.
 
There are signs to watch out for that will tell you your condition is getting worse; these include: your signs and symptoms becoming more frequent and increasing difficulty breathing if you need to use an inhaler more frequently.
 
In some people, asthma signs and symptoms will flare up in certain situations:
 
• Exercise-induced asthma often can get worse when the air is dry and cold.
• Occupational asthma is triggered by workplace irritants, like chemical fumes, gases or dust.
• Allergy-induced asthma is triggered by common allergens like pollen, cockroach waste, mold spores, or particles of skin and dander shed by pets.

Researchers have not been able to determine why one person gets asthma and another doesn’t. Some factors create a higher risk:
 
If you have allergies, that puts you at a higher risk of developing asthma.
 
The environmental factors that expose people to things that irritate their airways increase the risk of asthma. Things like allergens, fumes, smoke, and toxins are all connected to asthma. These are especially harmful to infants and young children.
 
Genetics plays a role in who develops asthma. A family history of allergies and asthma puts people at a higher risk.
 
Certain respiratory infections, like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), can do damage to young children’s developing lungs.

Untreated asthma can cause serious damage to the lungs. Over time, it can cause the lungs to scar or lead to the loss of the surface layer of the lungs. The tubes in the lungs can become thicker allowing less air to pass through them. The muscles of the airway become enlarged and are less able to relax. Severe cases of untreated asthma can lead to death. Contact Clio Urgent Care for the treatment of asthma. We are located at 4272 W. Vienna Road Clio, MI 48420. For more information, please contact us or simply walk in! We serve patients from Clio MI, Montrose MI, Birch Run MI, Mount Morris MI, Beecher MI, Genesee County, MI, and surrounding areas.