Asthma

Asthma affects around 25 million people in the United States, seven million of whom are children.

To learn about diagnosis and treatment options, please call the Pulmonary & Sleep Center of Oklahoma. PSCO serves Tulsa and Northeastern Oklahoma. Hassan Abouhouli MD, Dallas Buck APRN, Joshua Moushon APRN, and Kallie Garrett APRN offer effective and personalized solutions to assist you in managing your asthma symptoms. 918-307-5490

Asthma FAQ’s

What is asthma?

Asthma is a chronic disease that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways in the lungs. Normal airways allow oxygen to flow easily into the lungs, however, with asthma, inflammation causes swelling in the airway, making it more difficult for oxygen to flow. This causes discomfort and difficulty breathing, among many other symptoms.

What are the symptoms of Asthma?

The main characteristic of asthma is wheezing when breathing. This could cause a whistling or squeaky sound every time that you breathe. Other symptoms include:

  • Chest tightness or pain
  • Nighttime symptoms with shortness of breath
  • Coughing which is usually worse at night

Asthma attacks can be very scary for everyone involved, especially for children when it flares up. Your symptoms could become more severe until you receive treatment.

What can cause a person to have asthma?

It is hard to determine, and it is not clear why some people get asthma and others do not, but it is believed to be due to a combination of environmental and genetic (inherited) factors.

How can asthma be diagnosed?

Asthma is based on several factors, which may include a detailed medical history, a physical exam, and a pulmonary function test to determine the symptoms. A spirometry, lung challenge test, exhaled nitric oxide test, imaging, and blood work.

The team may also recommend getting allergy tested, getting an (EKG) Electrocardiogram to rule out other factors that could be the cause of your symptoms.

Can asthma be treated?

While asthma cannot be cured, there are several treatments that can help you get control of the symptoms and prevent life-threatening attacks. Our team will be more than happy to answer any questions that you may have for treating asthma!

To schedule an appointment or learn about available testing at Pulmonary & Sleep Center of Oklahoma please call 918-307-5490.