Among Americans with severe asthma, a condition that disproportionately affects Blacks, less than half see a specialist to manage their condition, research shows.
Only 38 percent of severe asthma patients saw an allergist/immunologist or a pulmonologist at least once in the year before or after the first observation of severe asthma, the investigators found.
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The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends patients with severe asthma be referred to a specialist for evaluation and care.
“Specialist care is important for managing any condition, especially a chronic one such as severe asthma,” lead author Dr. Jessica Most, a pulmonologist at Jefferson Health/National Jewish Health, in Philadelphia says.
After a specialist visit, asthma attacks were much lower (about 38 percent versus 49 percent). Hospitalizations, emergency department visits and use of rescue inhalers also were lower for patients during the 12 months after their first visit to a specialist, the study found.
The greatest predictors for a specialist visit were higher numbers of asthma attacks, younger age, and having severe asthma identified in a recent year.
The benefits of seeing an asthma specialist include:
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While a mild case with obvious triggers that responds well to medication may not require a visit to a specialist, you should consider a specialist if you are experiencing the following:
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Pulmonologists specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating lung and respiratory illnesses for several conditions. These conditions include:
A pediatric pulmonologist specializes in breathing problems in children until they are 21 for the following conditions:
Pulmonologists can give you a broader understanding of not only asthma and your lungs, but the impact of asthma and respiratory diseases.
Essentially, they can:
If your asthma is a result of allergies, a pulmonologist may not be the best choice for you.
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An allergist/immunologist manages allergies, asthma, and diseases of the immune system. An allergist/immunologist manages seasonal environmental, drug, and food allergies, as well as allergy-related skin conditions. They can also treat severe allergic reactions.
An allergist/immunologist can help you understand the complicated process that can lead to allergies and asthma attacks.
Essentially, they can:
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Respiratory therapists are not technically doctors. They are healthcare providers specially trained to treat asthma through lung exercises.
Respiratory therapists are not a replacement for primary healthcare providers because they can’t prescribe asthma medications. However, they are a great addition to your primary healthcare providers if you find yourself short of breath and/or want to exercise more.
A respiratory therapist can:
PR specialists can:
Research published in 2020 also shows that pulmonary rehabilitation is beneficial for people with any stage of asthma because it can:
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If you have insurance, check to see who is in your network and ask your PCP about a referral. You can also utilize online reviews and directories, such as the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, which can help you find an asthma specialist/allergist. The best way to find the appropriate specialist is to create a list and gather several names in case you run into long wait times or specialists that don’t cover your insurance or aren’t accepting new patients.
Once you find a specialist, remember to bring any relevant medical records, including test results and medication lists to your first appointment. Remember that your first appointment can be a trial run to make sure that the specialist is the right fit for you and has the level of expertise you need to get the appropriate care.
Although asthma isn’t curable, finding the right specialist can help you manage your asthma symptoms, reduce the severity of your asthma and reduce the number of flare-ups you experience.
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