CityMD is here to treat your urgent asthma needs, including attacks. Our board certified doctors are trained in urgent asthma care for both adults and children. With our short wait times, broad insurance/payment options, and comprehensive follow-ups, CityMD provides an exceptional experience and a more convenient alternative to the emergency room.
CityMD Asthma Services Include:
Oxygen Saturation Evaluation
Rapid Evaluation by Medical Professional (average wait time of 6 minutes)
Nebulizer Treatment
Oral and/or Injectable Steroid Treatment
New or Refill Prescriptions for Inhaler, Nebulizer Solution, Steroid Medications, and Maintenance Medications
Communication and Coordination with your PCP and/or Pulmonologist (or referral to PCP upon request if you do not have one)
Please note: For asthma diagnosis, please visit your primary care physician.
Asthma Diagnosis
Asthma is a common lung condition that can affect both children and adults. The general symptoms are inflamed pulmonary airways that become constricted and produce mucus. This results in coughing, wheezing and difficulty in breathing.
How serious is asthma? The symptoms range in severity…from a minor cough and wheeze to a life-threatening difficulty of breathing, which would require immediate emergency ICU care. The good news is that most asthmatic symptoms can be controlled with certain lifestyle modifications that can help patients avoid asthma triggers – as well as the regular use of chronic maintenance medications and/or rescue medications.
What Can Cause an Asthma Attack?
Common Triggers of Asthma include:
Smoke (tobacco, fire)
Allergens (dust mites, pet dander, pollen, mold, cockroach allergen)
Outdoor Air Pollution
Strenuous Physical Exercise
Extreme Temperatures (very cold or very hot and humid)
Food Allergies
Severe Emotional Conditions
Complications of Influenza
Complications of Pneumococcal Infection
Dietary Sulfites
Early Symptoms of Asthma
Signs and Symptoms of Asthma in Adults:
Wheezing (a high-pitched, musical sound produced when air is forced through narrow airways)
Dry Cough (does not produce sputum)
These symptoms are especially common after a known trigger occurs.
Signs and Symptoms of Asthma in Children:
Wheezing (a high-pitched, musical sound produced when air is forced through narrow airways)
A Nighttime Dry Cough (does not produce sputum)
A Cough That Recurs Seasonally (especially allergen like dust pollen, and mold)
A Cough In Response to Temperature Exposures (especially cold air or hot humid air)
A Cough That Occurs Due to Exercise, Emotional Upset, or Laughing
A Cough That Lasts More Than 3 weeks
These symptoms are especially common after a known trigger occurs.
Treatment and Prevention of Asthma
There are ways to control asthma. If you take your prescribed medications regularly and avoid or limit interactions with the common triggers of asthma, your symptoms can be lessened or even contained. However, it is important to take your maintenance asthma medication as prescribed, even though you experience no symptoms and feel fine.
Common Asthma Treatments:
Inhaler
Nebulizer
Steroid Inhaler
Leukotriene Inhibitor
Oral Steroids
Severe Asthma: Symptoms That Require ER Care
Asthma can be a serious condition. When symptoms escalate and become severe, they can turn life threatening and will require immediate ER treatment. Please call 911 if you experience the following:
Severe Asthma Attack
Previous History of Severe Asthma with Hospitalizations, Intubations, or ICU Admissions
Blue Lips or Blue Nail Beds
Child Seems To Be Using Abdominal Muscles to Breathe (abdominal breathing) or the Lower Ribs Seem to Retract Inward (rib retraction)
Unable to Speak in More Than One or Two Word Sentences
Somnolence, Confusion or Any Altered Mental Status
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, please call 911 immediately.
Aftercare
Whenever we treat you, we’ll make sure to follow up and coordinate an Aftercare Program here or elsewhere if you need it.