Asthma and Respiratory Care
Asthma
Our dedicated asthma experts provide treatment plans tailored to you. Our team approach ensures you receive the most complete care.
Medically reviewed by Samuel Louie, M.D. on April 16, 2024.
What Is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic lung condition. During an asthma attack, inflammation and constriction in your airways and excess mucus can make it hard to breathe. For some people, asthma symptoms come and go. Other people may experience symptoms often. Asthma can be mild or severe.
Our UC Davis Asthma Network (UCAN) specialists are experts at treating asthma and its underlying causes, and we specialize in severe and treatment-resistant asthma. We offer personalized, comprehensive treatment plans and access to clinical trials for the latest therapies. Our Comprehensive Pediatric Pulmonary Care team also provides top-ranked care for children with asthma.
On this page
Asthma Symptoms
Symptoms of asthma can be mild or severe.
Common Symptoms
Asthma symptoms may include:
- Coughing that may be worse at night
- Pressure or tightness in your chest
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing (whistling sound when you breathe)
Emergency Symptoms
Severe asthma attacks can be life-threatening. Call 911 or get medical attention right away if you experience:
- Blue or gray lips or fingernails
- Confusion
- Shortness of breath that doesn’t go away
- Trouble talking because you can’t breathe
Asthma Causes
The cause of asthma is unknown, but many different things can irritate your lungs and cause asthma symptoms or an attack. Triggers include:
Allergens or Irritants in the Air
Air pollution, chemical fumes, tobacco smoke, pollen, dust and other airborne irritants can cause asthma symptoms.
Dust Mites and Pests
The droppings from cockroaches, dust mites, mice, rats and other pests can trigger asthma symptoms.
Exercise
Physical activity often triggers asthma symptoms (exercise-induced asthma).
GERD
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) causes stomach acid to flow up from your stomach, which can trigger asthma symptoms.
Infections
Viral infections that affect your lungs can cause asthma attacks or make your symptoms worse.
Mold
Mold that grows inside buildings can trigger asthma symptoms.
Pets
If you’re allergic to animal dander, being around pets can cause asthma symptoms.
Asthma Risk Factors
Certain factors can raise your risk of developing asthma. They include:
Allergies
Having any allergic condition can raise your risk of asthma.
Biological Sex
In children, more boys than girls have asthma. In teens and adults, more women than men have asthma.
Ethnicity
African American and Puerto Rican people have a higher risk of asthma than people of other ethnicities.
Family History
Having parents or other close biological relatives with asthma raises your risk.
Obesity
People with obesity have a higher risk of developing asthma.
Occupation
Having a job that exposes you to chemical fumes or dust raises your asthma risk.
Tobacco or Marijuana Smoke and E-Cigarette Aerosols
Smoking or inhaling secondhand smoke or e-cigarette aerosols increases your risk of developing asthma. Learn how our support programs can help you stop smoking.
Asthma Diagnosis and Testing
We offer advanced diagnostic tests to better understand your asthma symptoms and check for any other related health conditions you might have.
You may have tests, such as:
- Allergy testing, to identify inhaled allergens that might trigger asthma attacks
- Biomarker testing, to check for certain molecules in your body using blood and breath tests. The results give more detailed information about your asthma and help your team provide highly personalized treatment.
- Bronchoscopy, to allow your provider to see inside your airways using a scope
- Chest X-ray and CT scans, to check for infections or other problems in your lungs that may affect your breathing
- Pulmonary function testing, to see how much air you breathe in and out, and how easily you breathe
Asthma Treatment at UC Davis Health
Our asthma experts provide comprehensive care in our UCAN Clinic and pediatric severe asthma clinic. We combine care, education and research to give you a personalized action plan and the latest therapies.
Allergy Medications
If allergies trigger your asthma attacks, you may need allergy medication.
Biologic Therapies
Biologic therapies use antibodies that prevent asthma symptoms by blocking processes in your body that lead to airway inflammation.
Control Medications
You take these medications every day to lower your risk of asthma attacks.
Rescue Medications
Rescue medications provide quick relief during an asthma attack. These medications are usually inhaled and quickly open your airways.
Preventing Asthma Attacks
These steps may help you reduce the amount of asthma attacks you have or help reduce the severity of your symptoms:
Avoid Your Triggers
If you know your asthma triggers and can avoid them, you may be able to prevent some asthma attacks.
Take Your Medications as Prescribed
Take your asthma medications as prescribed and keep your rescue medication with you at all times.
“Asthma Causes and Triggers,” National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/asthma/causes
Who does it affect?
24.9MPeople in the U.S.
Annual asthma deaths
>3,500In the U.S.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Most Recent National Asthma Data
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Ranked among the nation’s best children’s hospitals
U.S. News & World Report ranked UC Davis Children’s Hospital among the best in neonatology, nephrology, orthopedics*, pediatric & adolescent behavioral health, and pulmonology & lung surgery. (*Together with Shriners Children’s Northern California)
Ranked Sacramento’s #1 hospital
Ranked Sacramento’s #1 hospital by U.S. News, and high-performing in back surgery, COPD, colon cancer surgery, gynecological cancer surgery, heart attack, heart failure, hip fracture, kidney failure, leukemia, lymphoma & myeloma, lung cancer surgery, pneumonia, prostate cancer surgery, stroke, TAVR, and gastroenterology & GI surgery.
The nation’s highest nursing honor
UC Davis Medical Center has received Magnet® recognition, the nation’s highest honor for nursing excellence.
World-class cancer care
One of ~56 U.S. cancer centers designated “comprehensive” by the National Cancer Institute.
A leader in health care equality
For the 13th consecutive year, UC Davis Medical Center has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the educational arm of America’s largest civil rights organization.
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