Asthma Specialist

What are the symptoms of asthma?

A chronic lung disease, asthma leads to issues with the airways and breathing. Although it has many symptoms, some of the most common include:

• Wheezing
• Chest tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing
• Excessive mucus

Asthma symptoms can range from mild to severe, and your child may experience them regularly, or their symptoms may worsen when the child encounters specific triggers.

What is an asthma attack?

An asthma attack occurs when your child’s asthma symptoms become intense, and the child has difficulty breathing.

During an asthma attack, the muscles surrounding your child’s airways tighten and spasm. The airways swell and inflame, producing excessive, thicker-than-usual mucus.

These symptoms combine to make breathing difficult. During an asthma attack, your child may also wheeze, cough, breathe rapidly, become pale, have difficulty speaking and have a sweaty face.

If your child’s asthma attack doesn’t respond to at-home medication, seek emergency medical help. In extreme cases, asthma can become fatal.

What causes asthma?

The underlying causes of asthma are unclear, but the results are easy to recognize: The bronchial tubes -- which allow air to move in and out of the lungs -- become inflamed and swollen, making breathing air in and out of the lungs difficult. Worse, your child may not understand what is happening and may become very frightened by the coughing and wheezing.

In many children, the symptoms of asthma become worse with exercise, which is called exercise-induced asthma. Your child may have allergic asthma, which means the allergic reaction intensifies the asthma symptoms.

However, some risk factors that make the development of asthma more likely have been identified, including:

• A family history of allergies
• Having parents who have or had asthma
• Certain childhood respiratory infections
• Exposure to certain viral infections during early childhood

How is asthma treated?

The key to asthma treatment is long-term control and prevention of asthma attacks. Dr. Hubbard helps children and parents recognize triggers and the warning signs of an upcoming attack. Learning to avoid triggers is essential to successful asthma treatment.

Depending on various factors, Dr. Hubbard may prescribe your child medications to help manage their asthma symptoms and reduce flare-ups. She may recommend daily medications to suppress symptoms and lung inflammation as well as emergency, quick-relief inhalers to help during an asthma attack.

If you’re concerned about your child’s asthma, call Dr. Hubbard’s office today or go online to book your child’s appointment.