If you’re among the 26 million Americans living with asthma, you need personalized treatment that keeps your symptoms under control. At the Advanced Lung Disease Center, we provide customized treatment for asthma and other obstructive airway diseases.
Why Choose Us for Asthma Care
- Leading treatments: We provide advanced, non-steroid medications that work to decrease airway inflammation.
- Partners in your care: As our patient, you’ll receive education about new asthma treatments before a shared decision is made.
- Biologic therapies: For the most severe asthma cases, our program specializes in new, injectable biologic therapy that targets the immune system. Non-biologic medications are also available.
- Bronchial thermoplasty: We are one of the few centers in the region to offer bronchial thermoplasty. This is a procedure that decreases the airway smooth muscles to reduce asthma attacks.
- Known for results: Our therapies have led to changed lives by improving asthma control and quality of life in the most severe cases of asthma.
Biologic Therapy for Severe Asthma
What is biologic therapy?
Biologic therapy uses proteins from living organisms. When injecting these proteins, we target the specific parts of your immune system that play a part in your asthma. The therapy can be helpful when inhaled corticosteroids have not worked.
Am I a candidate for biologic therapy?
This treatment is for moderate to severe asthma patients. Extensive testing is necessary prior to starting biologics. If you are interested, ask your provider if you may be eligible.
Why use biologic therapy?
When other medicines have failed to control symptoms like shortness of breath and coughing, biologics can often help. The therapy may prevent you from having asthma attacks, lower your oral steroid use and lessen your asthma attack intensity.
What are my options if I don’t qualify for biologic therapy?
Biologics don’t work for everyone. If you are not a candidate for biologic therapy, there are other treatments that can reduce your asthma symptoms. As part of your personalized care plan, our asthma physicians can recommend which treatment is best for you.
Bronchial Thermoplasty for Severe Asthma
What is bronchial thermoplasty?
Bronchial thermoplasty is an FDA-approved treatment for severe, persistent asthma in patients 18 and older. The procedure reduces the airway smooth muscle (this is what tightens during asthma attacks and makes it hard to breathe). This allows your airways to stay open, resulting in easier breathing.
What can I expect during bronchial thermoplasty?
Bronchial thermoplasty is a non-invasive, outpatient procedure. It is performed under moderate sedation or light anesthesia over a course of three treatment sessions. Typically, each treatment session takes less than one hour to complete.
Am I a candidate for bronchial thermoplasty?
You may be eligible for bronchial thermoplasty if you are:
- 18 years or older.
- Suffering from severe asthma that is not well-controlled by medications.
- Taking all asthma medications as prescribed.
- Adjusting your lifestyle to avoid asthma triggers.
- Absent from work, school or other daily activities because of asthma.
What are the risks of bronchial thermoplasty?
The most common risk is temporary worsening of respiratory-related symptoms. These events typically occur within one day of the procedure and usually resolve within one week. There is a small risk of complications leading to hospitalization.
What are my options if I don’t qualify for bronchial thermoplasty?
There are many drugs that can be prescribed to treat asthma. If you do not meet the criteria for bronchial thermoplasty, there’s still hope for controlling your asthma. Our experienced physicians can discuss your other treatment options during your next clinic appointment.
Take the Next Step
If you have trouble breathing, chest tightness, wheezing or a chronic cough, these may be signs of asthma. Ask your primary care provider for a referral to the Advanced Lung Disease Center. We will be glad to evaluate you and advise you on a care plan at our clinic.