Urgent Care for Asthma and COPD

Types of Asthma

Asthma is a long-term disease of the lungs that causes occasional difficulty in breathing. Southwest Urgent Care is here for your every breath! Medical research advances have aided providers in gaining a better understanding of asthma, resulting in the definition, diagnosis, and treatment of specific types of the disease. Determined by the frequency, underlying cause, and/or severity of asthma symptoms, there are several types of asthma. Asthma can be chronic, acute, or common. Some common asthma subtypes are:

• Allergic asthma: Caused by environmental allergens such as pollen, pet dander, mold, and dust.
• Non-allergic asthma: Reasons include stress, viruses, or weather.
• Seasonal asthma: Triggered by allergens that appear at different times of the year, like cold, dry air in the winter or hot, humid weather.
• Occupational asthma: Exposure to chemicals or irritants at the workplace
• Exercise-induced asthma: Exercise or physical exertion
• Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome: Overlapping of COPD and Asthma

Experienced providers at  Urgent Care can help you determine the type of Asthma you are suffering from and help keep your symptoms under control. Schedule a virtual visit and discuss your symptoms so that asthma does not interfere with your life.

Inflammation of the bronchial tubes, with their extra-sticky secretions, disallows a person to breathe the air in and out smoothly. It is common in children, but adults can develop asthma too. Each patient may have a different trigger and/or symptom when it comes to asthma. Even in the same patient, triggers or symptoms may vary from one asthma attack to another. Asthma symptoms can be mild or severe. Please seek medical emergency assistance or call 911 if the condition doesn’t seem to be improving with a rescue inhaler or your lips or fingernails turn blue. Some common Asthma Symptoms include:

• wheezing
• coughing
• chest tightness
• breathing faster
• a fast heartbeat

Severe symptoms while going through an asthma attack include:

• drowsiness or confusion
• exhaustion or dizziness.
• being too breathless to walk, eat, speak, or sleep.
• blue lips or fingers.
• Chest tightness is becoming severe and constant.
• fainting.

With the help of our providers here at  Urgent Care, a stepwise plan can be developed to help you avoid or treat your symptoms when they occur. Discuss your symptoms now and start a journey towards a better and healthier life! Asthma can be triggered by a variety of factors. Depending on the patient, some of the most common Asthma Triggers include:

• Respiratory infections such as the common cold, flu, and COVID
• Environmental allergens such as pollen, mold, dust mites, and pet dander
• Chemical or environmental irritants
• Food allergens
• Changes in weather and cold air
• Exercise
• heartburn or reflux
• Medications
• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Smoke and Smoking
• Anxiety and chronic stress

Let our healthcare provider help you recognize your asthma triggers and find ways to dodge or manage them proactively.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Asthma

Diagnosis:

A proper diagnosis is the first step toward effective disease management. It is of the utmost importance to identify and treat even the mildest of asthma symptoms to help prevent severe episodes in the future and keep asthma under control. If you have difficulty breathing and you think you have asthma, the first step while visiting us is that our provider will start with a physical exam, and you will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. You may be referred to a pulmonologist or an allergy and immunology specialist if you have severe symptoms or an infection. Some diagnostic tests may also be suggested.

What is COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, often known as COPD, is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties via airflow blockage. Breathing complications caused by COPD tend to worsen gradually and can limit your simple everyday activities. Asthma and COPD are very similar conditions that impact the respiratory system. Also, as a matter of fact, around 40% of people suffering from COPD are also diagnosed with asthma. Smoking causes almost 85–90 percent of COPD cases. History and/or current use of tobacco and exposure to air pollution worsen the symptoms of pulmonary diseases.

Symptoms of COPD

Many people experiencing COPD symptoms mistake them for typical signs of aging. COPD symptoms overlap with some asthma symptoms. Some symptoms to watch for are:

• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Excess phlegm
• Shortness of breath
• Trouble taking a deep breath
• Frequent respiratory infections

No symptom should ever be ignored! Even though the conditions of COPD are not fully reversible, a timely diagnosis can lead to a healthy life for you.

Treatments for COPD:

Some of the most common treatments for COPD symptoms may include:

• Quitting smoking
• Avoiding exposure to triggers
• Avoiding respiratory infections
• Medications
• Pulmonary rehabilitation
• Positive pressure breathing devices during sleep
• Supplemental oxygen

In the case of COPD, early diagnosis is key to finding the right treatment and decelerating the disease before it starts to worsen.

Other related conditions treated at Southwest Urgent Care

Some other conditions related to pulmonary diseases treated at Southwest Urgent Care include:

• Allergies
• Pharyngitis-Sore throat
• Sinusitis
• Common Cold
• Flu
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Lung infection
• Acute bronchitis
• COVID-19 testing
• Other respiratory illnesses

Southwest Urgent Care is working 365 days a year for your well-being. Walk in to see a provider or book a convenient virtual visit to get your illness diagnosed and treated.