Asthma
Pediatric Asthma Treatment in Delray Beach FL
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that makes it difficult for air to pass through your lungs properly. It can start at any age and nearly 26 million Americans have asthma, 7 million of them being children. Unfortunately, there is no cure for asthma. However, with proper management, people living with asthma can live completely normal and healthy lives without asthma. Pediatric by the Sea offers treatment options for Asthma in Delray Beach Florida at both our Downtown Delray and Jog Road offices. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please call us today or request an appointment online.
What are the Causes of Asthma?
The swollen airways in the lungs become sensitive to certain triggers, and when those triggers enter the body, those airways create extra mucus making it difficult to breathe which leads to asthma attacks, complications, and sometimes death. The key is to understand the triggers that cause asthma. Sometimes, you may not even know you have it until you’re exposed to those triggers. This means the environment you live in is a huge cause and risk factor for asthma. Additionally, genetics is a risk factor for asthma.
What are the Symptoms of Asthma?
You may be wondering if your child has asthma, but unsure if it’s something else. If any of these symptoms occur chronically or only around certain triggers, they may have asthma:
Tight feeling in the chest
Shortness of breath
Coughing
Wheezing
However, it’s very possible a variety of other conditions are causing these symptoms, such as different allergies. Consult with your pediatrician at Pediatrics By The Sea about whether or not your child has asthma.
How is Asthma Treated at our Office in Delray Beach?
Your pediatrician will need to conduct tests to diagnose your child. First, they will ask about symptoms, medical history, experiences, etc. to get a good sense if asthma is a possibility. After that, the most common test is called Spirometry, in which the pediatrician uses a device to measure the airflow of the lungs.
Typically, if your child has the above symptoms, has a parent with asthma, and also has allergies (including skin allergies), your pediatrician will conduct a lung functioning test. After that, usually, a trial period of asthma medication will be given, depending on the results, with a follow-up appointment to monitor the outcome.
If you think your child has asthma, call Pediatrics By The Sea at (561) 272-8991 for our Downtown Delray location or (561) 303-3707 for our Jog Road location to set up an appointment.