Asthma Specialist
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Kamal Anjum, MD, FCCP
Pulmonary Medicine & Critical Care located in Hollywood, FL
Though many people think of asthma as a childhood disease, you can have your first asthma flare-up during your adult years. No matter when you have your first attack, asthma is a chronic condition that K. Anjum, MD, FCCP, helps you manage throughout your life. With a dedication to serving each patient’s individual needs and teaching them how to prevent asthma flare-ups, Dr. Kamal Anjum’s team can help you live an active life. To schedule an appointment for comprehensive asthma care, call the office in Hollywood, Florida, or use the online booking feature.
Asthma Q & A
What causes asthma?
Asthma begins when inflammation develops in your airways, leading to swelling and increased mucus production that narrows the airways and makes it hard to breathe. When you have asthma, your airways stay chronically inflamed, and they’re easily irritated by substances that trigger an asthma attack.
What triggers asthma?
If you have allergies, there’s a good chance that your allergens will also trigger your asthma attacks. Each person has their own asthma triggers, but these are a few examples of the most common ones:
- Pollen
- Dust mites
- Animal dander
- Mold spores
- Cold air
- Acid reflux
- Stress
- Tobacco smoke
- Viral infections (flu or cold)
Exercise triggers asthma in about 90% of patients.
What symptoms develop due to asthma?
Your symptoms may appear frequently or occasionally, and your flare-ups may be mild or severe. The severity of your asthma symptoms can also change over time, so it’s important to keep in touch with the team at K. Anjum, MD, FCCP, and let them know if your symptoms become more frequent or severe.
You may not have all the symptoms during every asthma flare-up. However, most patients experience:
- Chest pain or tightness
- Shortness of breath
- Dry cough
- Wheezing
If you have a recurring, dry cough without any of the other symptoms, it may be a sign you have cough-variant asthma.
How is asthma diagnosed and treated?
When you come in with symptoms of asthma, you’ll have one or more pulmonary function tests. Spirometry, one of the key diagnostic tests, is done in the office, allowing the team at K. Anjum, MD, FCCP, to evaluate the amount of air you inhale and exhale.
After your examination and diagnostic testing, your provider at K. Anjum, MD, FCCP, devotes extra time to educating you about asthma and how to identify and avoid your triggers. In addition to creating a plan to eliminate triggers, your asthma treatment includes:
Quick-relief medications
The team prescribes a rescue inhaler to use at the first sign of an asthma attack. The inhaler quickly sends medication into your lungs and opens your airways so you can breathe. The team at K. Anjum, MD, FCCP, shows you how to use your inhaler correctly so you can be sure of rapid relief when you need it.
Long-term medications
You may also need to take daily medications that reduce inflammation and lower your chance of future asthma flare-ups.
If you develop asthma symptoms, call K. Anjum, MD, FCCP, or schedule an appointment online.
