Time to breathe easier. Let’s talk about your lungs.
Asthma, COPD, allergies, and sleep apnea. Take a deep breath as we dive in.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a condition where a person’s airways can become inflamed and swell up causing a narrowing of the airways. It can also lead to excess production of mucus. Any or all of these problems make it difficult to breathe.
Asthma Risk Factors
There are a number of risk factors for asthma, the most common of which are:
- An inherited predisposition to asthma due to having a parent with asthma
- Complications from a severe respiratory infection as a child
- Allergic reaction
- Being exposed to certain chemical irritants
What is COPD?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that blocks airflow and makes it difficult to breathe. It is progressive and irreversible but symptoms can be managed and improved with appropriate treatments.
Risk Factors for COPD
Common risk factors linked to COPD include:
- Smoking
- Excessive exposure to fumes and smoke from charcoal and gas
- Exposure to pollutants and chemicals
- Poor nutrition
What are Allergies?
A silly question? Maybe not. Allergies occur when the immune system reacts, or overreacts, to a foreign substance.
Symptoms of Allergies
Since there are various types of allergies, common symptoms vary.
- Hay fever – Sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, watery eyes, red eyes
- Food allergy – Mouth tingling, swelling (tongue, face, or throat), hives
- Insect sting allergy – Swelling at sting site, itching, hives, chest tightness, shortness of breath
- Drug allergy – Hives, itching, rash, facial swelling, wheezing
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is an increasingly common and serious sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts as the person sleeps. Untreated, it can lead to daytime sleepiness and even elevated blood pressure.
Sleep Apnea Risk Factors
The onset of sleep apnea have been linked to:
- Excess weight gain
- Men
- Age
- Family history of sleep apnea
- Excessive use of alcohol
- Smoking
Sunnyvale Primary Care Can Help
As you can see, we treat a variety of lung conditions. Dr. Kam and Dr. Fontenot along with the rest of the team here at Sunnyvale Primary Care are dedicated to making you feel comfortable as we improve your health and well-being.
