Asthma Treatment at Jefferson
Asthma is one of the most common health problems around the world occurring in both children and adults. Asthma produces chest tightness, wheezing, cough and shortness of breath with activities and various triggers. Although the cause of asthma is unknown, it occurs more commonly in patients with allergies and family history.
With asthma comes the need for medications, frequent ER visits and hospital admissions, but it is a treatable chronic disease. If you or someone you care about has asthma, physicians of Jefferson's Asthma Program are among the best in the Philadelphia region for the diagnosis, management and treatment of this condition.
The Asthma Program serves as a regional resource for patients with asthma and is staffed by a multidisciplinary team including:
- Physicians with special expertise in asthma
- Asthma educators
- Medical/respiratory technologists
- Research fellows
We offer comprehensive services related to asthma, and our educators will help you understand what triggers your asthma – such as pollen, mold, strong odors or medications – and the best way to avoid attacks based on your specific condition.
In addition, we have expertise in the latest medications used.
Pregnant Women with Asthma
If you are pregnant with asthma, you can still have a healthy pregnancy
with careful monitoring of your condition. Our specialists will consult
with your obstetrician to develop a specific asthma treatment plan
tailored to your individual symptoms. We will provide education on what
you need to do to avoid asthma attacks, which can lead to both you and
the fetus being deprived of oxygen.
Asthma Caused by Working Conditions
If you have developed asthma as a result of working conditions, the good
news is that this condition may be reversible since the symptoms may
disappear when the irritants that caused the asthma are avoided. Our
specialists will help to diagnose the specific type of asthma and the
underlying conditions to provide treatment and information so that you
can stay healthy.
Severe Asthma Attacks
Despite careful management, there may come a time when you or someone
you care about has an asthma attack that does not resolve with
medication; seek emergency medical assistance immediately. Jefferson's
Department of Emergency Medicine can provide immediate diagnosis and
treatment. We offer world-class emergency services 24 hours a day, seven
days a week at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Center City and
Methodist Hospital in South Philadelphia.
Both Hospitals' Emergency Departments are staffed by attending
and resident physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners,
nurses, technicians and staff specially trained in emergency medicine.
Bronchial Thermoplasty to Treat Severe Asthma
If severe persistent asthma is affecting your life despite taking daily controller medications and requiring frequent reliever medication use, Jefferson is offering a new nondrug outpatient procedure that has shown to increase asthma control and improve quality of life.
Bronchial thermoplasty, performed by specially trained pulmonologists at Jefferson, delivers radiofrequency energy (or heat) to the airway walls in the lungs to reduce excess airway smooth muscle and limit the muscle's ability to constrict the airways – and help you breathe better.
This outpatient procedure is routinely performed under moderate sedation and typically takes about one hour. Following the procedure, you will be monitored for 2 to 4 hours and discharged home the same day. To treat the entire lung, the complete bronchial thermoplasty procedure is performed in three outpatient visits, each scheduled approximately two to three weeks apart.
Call 215-955-1672 to determine if you are a candidate for bronchial thermoplasty or would like further information.