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Facts about Asthma
Asthma is a chronic disease that affects more than 10 million Americans. The illness normally starts in childhood, usually by age three, and often recedes by adulthood. Asthma is caused by congestion of the bronchial tubes, which are the small air passages in the lungs. During an asthma attack, the air passages in the lungs narrow or become blocked by mucus or a muscle spasm. This makes breathing difficult and causes wheezing or coughing. An attack can be triggered by allergens such as pollen, animal dander, or house dust. It can also be caused by a respiratory infection or emotional stress. Irritants including tobacco smoke, smog, and other chemicals are also factors. A sudden change in temperature or humidity and strong winds can trigger an attack and so can strenuous exercise.
Early signs of asthma include: chronic cough at rest or with exercise, shortness of breath, and wheezing and/or tightness in the chest.The best way to control asthma is to avoid the things that cause it. Being healthy also helps prevent asthma attacks, so eat right, get enough sleep and exercise sensibly. It may be necessary for your doctor to prescribe medication to help prevent attacks or to stop them after they begin. Because asthma can be fatal if it isn't controlled, you should be under a doctor's care if you have the condition. For more information on asthma, talk with your doctor.
In the Event of an Asthma Attack
For many patients, the symptoms of an asthma attack can be terrifying. An episode may begin suddenly with breathlessness accompanied by wheezing, a tightness in the chest and coughing. Because anxiety causes symptoms to worsen, every attempt should be made to keep the patient as calm and comfortable as possible. Asthma attacks usually can be controlled with prescription medications, such as bronchodilators, that help relax and open the airways. Severe episodes may require more drastic measures such as adrenaline injections or the administration of oxygen. People with asthma and their families need to know how to recognize the early warning signs of asthma attacks. Proper medical treatment can help ease the frequency and severity of attacks.
The U-M Asthma/Airways Clinic
We know more about asthma than ever before.
We know how to treat asthma better than ever before.
We have medications that are more effective than ever before.
Despite this, several facts remain: asthma patients are sicker than ever and they're hospitalized more often than in the past. The University of Michigan Medical Center would like to reverse these startling facts through our new Asthma-Airways Clinic. The clinic is uniquely designed to use a new method of patient care that allows you more control over managing your disease.
Research Shows Self-Management Works
Research shows educational programs that encourage more self-management on the part of patients can dramatically improve their health by reducing hospital admissions, emergency room visits, sleep disturbances, and absenteeism from work. When patients participate in educational programs, they are much more likely to use their medications correctly, they experience fewer severe asthma symptoms, and asthma is much less likely to interfere with their daily lives.
The U-M Asthma-Airways Clinic Approach
At the U-M Medical Center, specialists in Allergy, Pulmonary Disease, Public Health, and Patient Education come together in the clinic to provide a complete health maintenance program for patients with asthma and airways disease. Patients include those with asthma and other chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.
The problem with the traditional approach to managing asthma is that it isn't flexible enough to meet your individual needs. Your particular risk factors, triggers, and other concerns related to asthma are unique to you, and it is impossible for a physician to monitor those daily.
Patients must be empowered to assess their asthma symptoms, and, using a customized treatment plan, administer the proper dose of the appropriate medication. That is what we teach our patients in the U-M Asthma-Airways Clinic. Specifically, patients understand how to:
- Recognize asthma signs and symptoms
- Properly administer medication
- Manage medication side effects
- Control panic
- Recognize the need for emergency care
- Identify and avoid asthma "triggers"
- Effectively communicate with their physicians
We will see you for an initial evaluation and assessment. During this visit, a patient educator will teach you about asthma control, helping you to recognize the symptoms of your disease. Our physicians then customize a treatment plan for you depending on what symptoms you're experiencing, and fit the control of your asthma into your individual lifestyle. You will keep a detailed diary of how your body responds to the treatment plan. You will record any hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and physician office visits or phone calls and review this with our clinic staff.
Community Physician Involvement
We will see you approximately four times over the course of a year. This will involve initial evaluation, patient-specific treatment plan creation, education and follow-up.
Regular maintenance examinations and visits will, as usual, be handled by your primary physician. Self-managing your disease means you still receive physician guidance. You and your physician will confront asthma as a team communicating frequently so both joint and independent decisions are made with complete information.
Quality Management
Our goal, of course, is to provide you with a better quality of life while decreasing your need for emergency and hospitalization services. To ensure you are happy with the program, we also assess:
- Patient knowledge of asthma
- Patient education
- Patient communication
- Patient satisfaction
- Physician communication
- Physician satisfaction with patient preparation
Where We're Located
The Asthma-Airways Clinic is located at the Briarwood Medical Campus , Building #3, in Ann Arbor, across from Briarwood Mall.
What You Should Bring
To help ensure efficient treatment, it is important that you bring some helpful information to your first appointment. Your care team will need the following from you:
- Healthcare insurance cards
- University of Michigan Hospital registration card (if you have one)
- All reports available from other physicians. This may include chest X-ray and CAT scan films and reports, allergy skin tests and pulmonary function tests. Please bring this information with you to your appointment (do not mail it). All this information should be available to you from your primary care physician.
- List of your current medications or prescriptions.
- Name and address of your referring physician, if you have one.
What You Should Expect
Please allow a half-day for your initial treatment so that we can perform a complete examination. Specific tests may include:
- Chest X-ray
- Pulmonary function tests
- Allergy skin tests
- Methacholine challenge
If you are on continuous oxygen therapy, be sure to bring it with you. Inform the clerk when you sign in at the front desk, and we will provide you with our oxygen source.
Payment for Your Care
You should be prepared to pay for any deductible co-pay or fees at the time your visit. Accepted payment methods include cash, personal check, VISA, Mastercard, or American Express. If you have questions or need additional information regarding payment, please phone Internal Medicine Associates at (734) 998-7155.
Answers to Your Questions
At the U-M Asthma-Airways Clinic, you will receive comprehensive care from a team who values your thoughts and concerns. As a result, in addition to testing, a portion of your visit is devoted to answering questions and providing information an treatment instructions.
We want you to feel informed and comfortable throughout your treatment. We suggest you write down any questions or concerns before your appointment that you may have regarding your diagnosis, medication, or treatment procedures.
For more information on the U-M Asthma-Airways Clinic, or if you would like to make an appointment, please call us at (734) 998-8172. We look forward to working together. |
