Take Steps to Easier Breathing
Asthma Care
If you’re one of the 25 million Americans who struggles with asthma symptoms including trouble breathing, wheezing, and tightness in your chest, our respiratory care team can help you breathe easier and avoid having an asthma attack. We offer asthma management strategies including medication, bronchial thermoplasty, and education for children and adults with asthma.
Appropriate asthma management and treatment techniques depend on an accurate diagnosis of what type of asthma you have. Both children and adults experience different types of asthma including:
- Allergic asthma
- Non-allergic asthma
- Exercise-induced asthma
- Adult-onset asthma
- Occupational asthma
Asthma Management
There are two types of physicians who will help you—or your child—manage your asthma and prevent asthma attacks. A pulmonologist will help diagnose your specific type of asthma and develop a treatment plan, while your primary care physician, such as a family medicine doctor or pediatrician, will oversee your day-to-day care.
Based on your diagnosis and your asthma triggers, you’ll work with you physician to develop an asthma action plan that is specific to you. Your plan will include what types of medication to take and how often, when to use your inhaler, triggers you need to avoid, and what to do in case of an asthma attack or severe asthma episode.
There are two types of asthma medicines: long-term control and quick-relief. To effectively manage your asthma, it’s important to understand what each of them does and how to use them correctly according to your asthma plan.
Long-term control medicines are often taken daily to control and prevent asthma symptoms before they happen. Long-term control medicines include inhaled corticosteroids, which prevent airway swelling and reduce mucus in the lungs. They are the most effective long-term control medicines available. Some people also take inhaled long-acting beta agonists, which work by relaxing the smooth muscles around the airways. This type of medication should only be taken in combination with an inhaled corticosteroid. If these medications don’t work on your asthma, your doctor may prescribe biologics. These medications target specific cells or proteins in your body to prevent your airways from swelling. They are given by injection or infusion every few weeks. Other less common medications include oral corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, cromolyn sodium, and theophylline.
Quick-relief medicines are used at the onset of asthma symptoms to relax the smooth muscles constricting your airways to make breathing easier. These medications are typically inhaled. Most people with asthma have an inhaler with short-acting beta agonists, which immediately relax the smooth muscles. Your doctor also may prescribe a slower-acting inhaled medication called anticholinergics or a combination of these two drugs. More than half of people who use inhalers use them incorrectly. Ask your physician or nurse to demonstrate proper technique and check your technique. You also might benefit from using a holding chamber or spacer device with your inhaler or a breath-actuated inhaler. You can talk with your primary care provider or a respiratory therapist about these options.
If your asthma symptoms are improving, don’t stop taking your medication. That just means it’s working! But do talk with your physician if you don’t think it’s helping. If you find you are using your inhaler two or more days a week, that might mean that your long-term control medications need to be adjusted.
The Lung Center at Penn Highlands also offers a procedure called bronchial thermoplasty to treat adults with severe asthma who are unable to control their symptoms with medication. In a series of three minimally invasive procedures, heat is used to reduce smooth muscle in your airways so that they constrict less. Read more.
Family Medicine
Walk-in Clinic
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - BrookvilleA Service of Penn Highlands Brookville
QCare BrookvilleA Service of Penn Highlands Brookville
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - CurwensvilleA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Hospitalists
Penn Highlands Elk
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - FoxA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Critical Care
Internal Medicine
Pulmonary Medicine
Penn Highlands Lung Center - BrookvilleA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Lung Center - ClarionA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Lung Center - ClearfieldA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Lung Center - Huntingdon
Penn Highlands Lung Center - PhilipsburgA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Lung Center - State CollegeA Service of Penn Highlands Huntingdon
The Lung Center
Family Medicine
Moshannon Valley Rural Health CenterA Service of Penn Highlands Brookville
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - AltoonaA Service of Penn Highlands Huntingdon
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - California
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Rostraver
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Rostraver Township
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - FoxA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Family Medicine Residency ClinicA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Moshannon Valley Rural Health CenterA Service of Penn Highlands Brookville
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - CurwensvilleA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - State CollegeA Service of Penn Highlands Huntingdon
QCare State CollegeA Service of Penn Highlands Huntingdon
Family Medicine
Marienville Rural Health CenterA Service of Penn Highlands Brookville
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Rostraver
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Rostraver Township
Family Medicine
Walk-in Clinic
Penn Highlands Family Medicine and Pediatric Care - PunxsutawneyA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
QCare PunxsutawneyA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - AltoonaA Service of Penn Highlands Huntingdon
Tyrone Rural Health CenterA Service of Penn Highlands Tyrone
Hospitalists
Internal Medicine
Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Internal Medicine - DuBoisA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Pulmonary Medicine
Penn Highlands Lung Center - BrookvilleA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Lung Center - ClarionA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
The Lung Center
Addiction Medicine
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - BrockwayA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Brookville Rural Health CenterA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
QCare BrookvilleA Service of Penn Highlands Brookville
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Elk A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Pinecrest Manor
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - FoxA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Internal Medicine
Penn Highlands Internal Medicine - Connellsville
Penn Highlands Internal Medicine - Mount Pleasant
Penn Highlands Internal Medicine - Penn Street
Penn Highlands Internal Medicine - Uniontown
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - ClearfieldA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Pediatrics
Penn Highlands Pediatrics - ClearfieldA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Critical Care
Pulmonary Medicine
Sleep Medicine
Penn Highlands Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine - DuBoisA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine - St. MarysA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Pulmonary Medicine
Penn Highlands Lung Center - BrookvilleA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Lung Center - ClarionA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Lung Center - ClearfieldA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Lung Center - Huntingdon
Penn Highlands Lung Center - PunxsutawneyA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Lung Center - St. MarysA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Lung Center - State CollegeA Service of Penn Highlands Huntingdon
The Lung Center
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - AltoonaA Service of Penn Highlands Huntingdon
Family Medicine
Wound Care
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - ReynoldsvilleA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Wound Center - DuBois
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - St. MarysA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - ClarionA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - RidgwayA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Obesity Medicine
Family Medicine Residency ClinicA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Developac RoadA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Brookville Rural Health CenterA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine Residency ClinicA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - DuBoisA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Family Medicine Residency ClinicA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Sunflower DriveA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Wound Care
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - ReynoldsvilleA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Wound Center - DuBois
Pediatrics
Moshannon Valley Rural Health CenterA Service of Penn Highlands Brookville
Penn Highlands Pediatrics - ClearfieldA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Developac RoadA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Internal Medicine
Penn Highlands Internal Medicine - RidgwayA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Walk-in Clinic
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Sunflower DriveA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Family Medicine and Pediatric Care - PunxsutawneyA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
QCare DuBoisA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
QCare PunxsutawneyA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Addiction Medicine
Family Medicine
Houtzdale Rural Health CenterA Service of Penn Highlands Tyrone
Tyrone Rural Health CenterA Service of Penn Highlands Tyrone
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Developac RoadA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - DuBois 2A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Rostraver
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Rostraver Township
Internal Medicine
Penn Highlands Internal Medicine - Hospital AvenueA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Pediatrics
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Rostraver
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Rostraver Township
Family Medicine
Brookville Rural Health CenterA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
New Bethlehem Rural Health CenterA Service of Penn Highlands Brookville
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - ClarionA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Pulmonary Medicine
Sleep Medicine
Penn Highlands Lung Center - PhilipsburgA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Lung Center - PunxsutawneyA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Lung Center - St. MarysA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
The Lung Center
Internal Medicine
Penn Highlands Internal Medicine - Connellsville
Penn Highlands Internal Medicine - Mount Pleasant
Penn Highlands Internal Medicine - Penn Street
Penn Highlands Internal Medicine - Uniontown
Family Medicine
Moshannon Valley Rural Health CenterA Service of Penn Highlands Brookville
Internal Medicine
Penn Highlands Internal Medicine - Connellsville
Penn Highlands Internal Medicine - Mount Pleasant
Penn Highlands Internal Medicine - Penn Street
Penn Highlands Internal Medicine - Uniontown
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Rostraver
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Rostraver Township
Family Medicine
Clearfield Jefferson Primary Care Associates, Clearfield Office
Clearfield Jefferson Primary Care Associates, DuBois Office
Addiction Medicine
Family Medicine
Family Medicine Residency ClinicA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Sunflower DriveA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Johnsonburg Rural Health CenterA Service of Penn Highlands Elk
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Washington StreetA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Addiction Medicine
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - BrockwayA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - ClearfieldA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Internal Medicine
Penn Highlands Internal Medicine - St. MarysA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Walk-in Clinic
QCare ClearfieldA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
QCare DuBoisA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
QCare Moshannon ValleyA Service of Penn Highlands Brookville
Pediatrics
Penn Highlands Pediatrics - ClearfieldA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - HuntingdonA Service of Penn Highlands Huntingdon
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Lake Raystown
Pulmonary Medicine
Penn Highlands Lung Center - BrookvilleA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Lung Center - ClarionA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Lung Center - ClearfieldA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Lung Center - Huntingdon
Penn Highlands Lung Center - PunxsutawneyA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Lung Center - St. MarysA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
The Lung Center
Family Medicine
Pediatrics
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Rostraver
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Rostraver Township
Pulmonary Medicine
Penn Highlands Lung Center - ClearfieldA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Lung Center - Huntingdon
Penn Highlands Lung Center - PhilipsburgA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Lung Center - State CollegeA Service of Penn Highlands Huntingdon
The Lung Center
Family Medicine
Brookville Rural Health CenterA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
QCare BrookvilleA Service of Penn Highlands Brookville
Family Medicine
Pediatrics
Penn Highlands Pediatrics - ClearfieldA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Hospital AvenueA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Internal Medicine
Penn Highlands Internal Medicine - Connellsville
Penn Highlands Internal Medicine - Mount Pleasant
Penn Highlands Internal Medicine - Penn Street
Penn Highlands Internal Medicine - Uniontown
Family Medicine
Houtzdale Rural Health CenterA Service of Penn Highlands Tyrone
Tyrone Rural Health CenterA Service of Penn Highlands Tyrone
Family Medicine
Walk-in Clinic
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - ClarionA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
QCare ClarionA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Johnsonburg Rural Health CenterA Service of Penn Highlands Elk
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Washington StreetA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Brookville Rural Health CenterA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine Residency ClinicA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Pulmonary Medicine
Penn Highlands Lung Center - ClearfieldA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Lung Center - Huntingdon
Penn Highlands Lung Center - St. MarysA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
The Lung Center
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Elk A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Pulmonary Medicine
Penn Highlands Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine - DuBoisA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine - St. MarysA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - FoxA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Family Medicine
Penn Highlands Family Medicine - Johnsonburg Road A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Internal Medicine
Penn Highlands Internal Medicine - Hospital AvenueA Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Other Ways to Manage Asthma Symptoms
In addition to following your asthma action plan, take these steps to prevent both short-term and long-term complications of asthma.
Identify your asthma triggers and develop a plan to avoid them. Although medications are effective at controlling your asthma symptoms, you also have to avoid your asthma triggers as much as possible. Common asthma triggers include:
- Pollen
- Dust mites and mold in bedding materials
- Pets/animal dander
- Exercising, particularly in cold weather
- Air pollution
- Smoke
- Strong smells like perfumes or bleach
- Respiratory illnesses or the flu
Get an annual flu and pneumonia vaccine. Both of these conditions can trigger asthma attacks.
Use a peak flow meter. By monitoring and recording your breathing using a peak flow meter, you can learn to recognize when your symptoms are worsening. The earlier you can treat an attack, the less severe it is likely to be. If your peak flow measurements decrease, follow a plan to take prescribed medications, avoid triggers and activity, and get medical help if needed.