Asthma
Asthma is a chronic condition that causes the airways to become inflamed and narrowed, making it harder to move air in and out of the lungs. Symptoms can include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, especially during exercise, illness, allergen exposure, or changes in the environment.
Breathing symptoms
What is asthma?
Asthma affects the lower airways and can cause symptoms that come and go or symptoms that become more persistent over time. For some patients, asthma is closely connected to allergies, while for others it is more strongly influenced by exercise, infection, weather, irritants, or workplace exposures. Because these triggers can vary from person to person, symptoms may also change over time and may become more noticeable without the right treatment and long-term management.
Signs and triggers
Understanding asthma symptoms
Asthma symptoms can range from mild breathing trouble to more disruptive flare-ups that affect sleep, activity, and daily confidence.
Symptoms may change over time and may not look the same in every patient.
Wheezing
Coughing
Chest tightness
Shortness of breath
Nighttime breathing symptoms
Trouble during exercise or physical activity
Asthma often worsens when the airways are exposed to irritants, allergens, infection, or physical stress.
Allergens such as pollen, dust mites, mold, or pet dander
Exercise
Respiratory infections
Smoke, fumes, or strong odors
Cold air or weather changes
Airway inflammation
How asthma affects your lungs and daily life
When asthma is active, the airways become inflamed, tighten, and may produce extra mucus. That can make breathing harder and can limit sleep, exercise, work, school, and confidence in daily routines if symptoms are not well controlled.
Meet the specialists behind your care
Dr. Jason C. Paris, MD
Board-Certified Allergist & Immunologist
Pamela H. Steinberg, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant
Relief options
How we treat asthma
Asthma care may include breathing evaluation, medication planning, inhaler guidance, trigger management, and treatment of related allergies when they are affecting control. The goal is to reduce flare-ups and help patients breathe more comfortably day to day.
Your treatment plan may include:
Breathing evaluation
Reviews symptoms, airway function, and trigger patterns.
Medication planning
May include controller inhalers, rescue inhalers, or other treatment based on severity.
Trigger management
Focuses on allergens, irritants, exercise, and environmental factors.
Ongoing follow-up
Helps track control and adjust treatment over time.
Looking for better asthma control?
Schedule an appointment for a focused asthma evaluation and a treatment plan built around your breathing symptoms and daily needs.
Book an appointmentFrequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway condition that can cause wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
Q2. Can allergies make asthma worse?
Yes. Allergic conditions and asthma often overlap, and allergens can worsen airway symptoms in many patients.
Q3. Does asthma always cause wheezing?
Not always. Some patients mainly notice cough, chest tightness, or breathing difficulty.
Q4. Can exercise trigger asthma symptoms?
Yes. Some patients develop exercise-induced bronchoconstriction during or after physical activity.
Q5. How is asthma diagnosed?
Diagnosis may include symptom review, breathing evaluation, and testing to understand lung function and triggers.
Q6. Can asthma be controlled long term?
Yes. Many patients improve with the right medication, trigger management, and follow-up care.
Q7. When should I see a specialist for asthma?
It is a good idea when symptoms are recurring, unclear, limiting activity, or not responding well enough to current treatment.