Asthma

What is Asthma?

Asthma affects the lungs, making it difficult to breathe.

Asthma can:

• Affect children or adults
• Be the cause of a chronic nagging cough
• Be intermittent or a life-long condition

How is Asthma Diagnosed?

Asthma is diagnosed based on your history and physical exam with a health care professional. Sometimes breathing tests needed to diagnose asthma.

How is Asthma Treated?

Asthma is treated with medicines that are either inhaled using a special medicine machine (nebulizer) or a portable dispenser (inhaler) or occasionally with oral medications.

Untreated asthma can be very serious and even deadly. But when treated, asthma can be manageable. 

Contact Us

If you have asthma or think you might, contact one of our family medicine locations to schedule an appointment.

Asthma: Additional Resources

• Visit the Health Library for more information about asthma.
• Visit UPMC patient education materials for additional information about asthma.