TrueCare Asthma and Allergy Center, PLLC

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TrueCare Asthma and Allergy Center, PLLC

What is Bronchial Asthma?,St. John, St John, St. Johns, St Johns, Health, St. John Health, Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, Health Care, doctor, doctors, physician, physicians
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Main Office
21700 Northwestern Highway
Suite 1290
Southfield, MI   48075
Phone: 248-395-CARE (2273)
Fax: 248-395-3889
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What is Bronchial Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic reversible lung disease that occurs when the airways (bronchial tubes) become inflamed. When this inflammation occurs one may develop symptoms of cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and/or discomfort. Several long-standing myths regarding asthma exist.

The two most common:

  1. I you don't wheeze, you don't have asthma (Likewise, if you have asthma, you must wheeze.)
  2. You will outgrow your asthma.

There are over 20 million people in the United States who have been diagnosed with asthma. Seven million of those are children; and over 250,000 of them are found here in Michigan. These rates are steadily rising.

The African American communities are one of the ones most severely affected. The greatest number of hospitalizations occurs in the African American community, ages 1 to 4. The greatest number of deaths also occurs in the African American community, ages 15-24. The number one reason for school absenteeism and in the workplace is asthma and other asthma related problems. Similar statistics are also found in adults, as well as other ethnic groups.

Contrary to what many think, there is no known cure for asthma. We don't know the "true cause" of asthma. And therefore, if you don't know the cause, you can't have/find the cure. However, there are several known risk factors that have been associated with the development of asthma:

  • gender (younger boys have a greater occurrence than younger girls)
  • remature births
  • breastfeeding less than 4 months
  • passive/secondary cigarette smoke exposure, and
  • a maternal history of atopy (allergies)
  • But, the two that are most important and have the greatest impact on the development of asthma is:
    • your genes and
    • environment.

Although, there is no cure, we do know how to treat asthma. We manage asthma, as well as allergies, through environmental control, avoiding irritating factors, traditional medications, and immunotherapy. Newer treatment modalities are forth coming that focus on the sub-cellular level of asthma control.