Get Professional Asthma / Pulmonary Management in Brooklyn

Among the many health problems that can dampen the quality of life, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are certainly two of them. When your breathing is affected, it affects all of your life. Getting the right kind of asthma / pulmonary management for your health condition can make a big difference in your life.

No Permanent Solution Yet

For both of these health problems, there is not any cure yet. This means that treatment will likely be ongoing for many years. Instead of a cure, patients can get some relief. In the case of asthma, it is possible to outgrow it. With COPD, there is an expected end, but treatment can help relieve symptoms.

Diagnosing Asthma

The diagnosis of asthma can involve several tests. The doctor will consider your symptoms, give you a physical exam, one or more chest x-rays, lab tests, some breathing tests, and possibly allergy testing. The testing is so that the doctor can determine whether the problem is COPD or asthma. Treatment for each one is different.

Asthma Relief

With asthma, it is very important to understand the triggers that lead to an asthma attack. These will vary considerably between people. Once these are determined through testing, the patient can learn to avoid them where possible. Or, if it is known that the triggers are unavoidable on certain days, such as with heavy amounts of air pollution (smog), the patient may take some medications to help prevent an attack.

Medications for asthma come in several forms. Patients are often given two types of medications: one for daily maintenance and another one when there is an asthma attack.

Diagnosing COPD

Before any asthma / pulmonary management can be given, COPD must be first diagnosed. The diagnosis is more difficult than with asthma, and more tests can be expected to be necessary. There are some other lung conditions that can affect breathing. One of the most common questions you can expect will be those about your smoking habit, or possible exposure to lung irritants.

The tests will likely involve lung function (spirometry). This test can detect the presence of COPD even before you are aware of any symptoms of it. You can also expect chest x-rays and a CT scan. A blood test will be given to detect how well your lungs are handling oxygen and carbon dioxide. Other lab tests may also be administered in order to eliminate other possible causes of your symptoms.

Treatment

In both cases, you can find a good degree of relief from the most common symptoms. While relief does not mean elimination of the disease, you can get better control of many of the symptoms, and it may also help prevent the advance of the condition.

Dr. Abdul Malik, MD offers diagnostics and asthma / pulmonary management. He is a Cardiologist who has been practicing for over 24 years. He has also trained many young doctors at several hospitals in the fields of Internal Medicine and Cardiology. His gentle manner and patience has earned him the title of Consumer’s Choice Award for Top Doctors.