Understanding asthma management: comprehensive treatment options at Livasa Hospitals

Asthma is a common chronic respiratory condition that affects the airways, causing periodic breathing difficulties. At Livasa Hospitals, our pulmonology and respiratory care teams in Punjab — including Livasa Mohali, Livasa Amritsar, Livasa Hoshiarpur, and Livasa Khanna — provide evidence-based asthma treatment, emergency asthma care, and long-term chronic asthma management for adults and children. If you or a loved one are searching for the best asthma specialist in Punjab or need immediate help, call +91 80788 80788 or book an appointment online.

What is asthma?

Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disorder of the airways (bronchi) that causes episodes of wheeze, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. These episodes are due to narrowing of the airways from a combination of smooth muscle constriction, mucus production, and airway wall inflammation. Asthma is not a single disease but rather a syndrome with several triggers and patterns, including allergic asthma, non-allergic asthma, exercise-induced bronchospasm, and occupational asthma.

The airway inflammation that underlies asthma makes the lungs more sensitive to a variety of stimuli — common triggers include allergens, respiratory infections, cold air, pollution, and exercise. In many patients, symptoms are intermittent and controllable with inhaled medications. In others, particularly those with severe or chronic asthma, symptoms can persist and lead to frequent exacerbations and impaired quality of life.

Globally, asthma affects over 300 million people, and it is responsible for significant morbidity and, in some cases, mortality. While effective treatments exist, poorly controlled asthma can cause repeated emergency visits and hospital admissions. In Punjab, rising air pollution and seasonal allergens contribute to an increasing burden of asthma and other breathing disorders, and specialized pulmonology care is essential for both prevention and advanced treatment.

Causes and risk factors

Asthma arises from a complex interaction between genetic predisposition and environmental exposures. No single cause explains every case; instead, risk factors increase the likelihood of developing bronchial asthma or experiencing more severe disease. Understanding these helps with tailored prevention and management plans.

Key risk factors include:

• Family history and genetics: A personal or family history of asthma, eczema, or allergic rhinitis increases risk.
• Allergic sensitization: Exposure to dust mites, pets, cockroach allergens, pollens, and mold commonly triggers allergic asthma.
• Air pollution and tobacco smoke: Urban pollution, industrial emissions, secondhand smoke, and biomass fuel exposure are significant drivers of respiratory disease in Punjab and across India.
• Respiratory infections: Repeated viral infections in early childhood can predispose to chronic airway hyperresponsiveness.
• Occupational exposures: Certain workplaces expose employees to sensitizing chemicals, dusts, or fumes that cause or exacerbate asthma.
• Obesity and lifestyle: Obesity is linked to more severe symptoms and worse control in some people with asthma. Physical inactivity may also contribute to poor symptom control.
• Medications and comorbidities: NSAIDs or beta-blockers can trigger symptoms in susceptible patients; chronic rhinosinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and anxiety disorders can worsen control.

In Punjab, seasonal crop burning, increased particulate matter during winter, and urban traffic pollution have been associated with spikes in asthma exacerbations and emergency visits. For patients living in Mohali, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Khanna and surrounding areas, addressing environmental triggers is an essential part of respiratory care and chronic asthma management.

Symptoms and signs of asthma and asthma attack

Asthma symptoms vary between individuals and across age groups. Common daily symptoms include wheeze (a whistling sound while breathing), shortness of breath, chest tightness, and cough. These may worsen at night or in the early morning. Symptoms may be mild and intermittent or persistent and severe. Recognizing early warning signs of an asthma attack and differentiating them from routine symptoms is critical to preventing life-threatening exacerbations.

Typical symptoms and red flags:

• Wheeze and noisy breathing: Especially audible when exhaling; may be absent in very severe obstruction.
• Breathlessness: Difficulty speaking full sentences, rapid shallow breathing, use of accessory neck muscles.
• Persistent cough: Often worse at night or with exercise; may be mistaken for chronic bronchitis or postnasal drip.
• Chest tightness: A subjective sensation of pressure or constriction in the chest.
• Increase in rescue inhaler use: Needing short-acting bronchodilator more than 2 days per week indicates poor control.
• Early signs of an attack: Rapid worsening of symptoms over hours; falling peak expiratory flow (PEF) readings if monitored.
• Severe attack signs (seek emergency care): Difficulty talking, blue lips or nails (cyanosis), rapid heartbeat, severe drowsiness, poor response to inhaled bronchodilators.

For parents, recognizing asthma in children can be challenging because cough or breathing noises may be attributed to other illnesses. Persistent cough or recurrent wheeze after viral infections should prompt an evaluation by a pediatric asthma specialist. At Livasa Hospitals in Mohali and Amritsar we emphasize patient education — teaching families to recognize early warning signs and providing an individualized asthma action plan that reduces the risk of severe attacks.

Diagnosis and tests for asthma in Punjab

Accurate diagnosis of asthma is the first step to effective management. At Livasa Hospitals we use a combination of history-taking, physical examination, and diagnostic tests to confirm bronchial asthma and exclude other conditions such as COPD, vocal cord dysfunction, or heart disease.

Common tests and investigations available at Livasa's pulmonology clinics in Punjab include:

• Spirometry (spirometry test for asthma Punjab): The gold standard for diagnosing airflow obstruction and reversibility with bronchodilators. Spirometry measures FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second) and FVC (forced vital capacity) and is essential for objective confirmation.
• Peak expiratory flow (PEF) monitoring: Useful for home monitoring and detecting variability in airflow, an indicator of asthma control.
• Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO): A noninvasive test that measures airway inflammation and helps identify eosinophilic (allergic-type) inflammation responsive to inhaled corticosteroids.
• Allergy testing: Skin prick tests or specific IgE blood tests to identify common triggers such as dust mites, pollens, pet dander, and molds.
• Chest X-ray and imaging: Used when an alternative diagnosis is suspected or to evaluate complications.
• Blood tests: Eosinophil counts, total IgE, and tests to identify comorbid conditions that can affect control.
• Exercise challenge testing: For suspected exercise-induced bronchospasm, especially in athletes and children.

At Livasa Hospitals in Mohali and Amritsar, our pulmonology care teams use spirometry as the backbone of asthma diagnosis. We also focus on asthma inhaler technique training because incorrect technique is a common reason for poor control. Our respiratory therapy services in Punjab include supervised spirometry, inhaler coaching, and pulmonary rehabilitation where appropriate. If you need a reliable spirometry test or a full diagnostic evaluation, call +91 80788 80788 or book an appointment.

Treatment options: medications, respiratory therapy and advanced interventions

Asthma management is multifaceted. Treatments aim to relieve acute symptoms, reduce airway inflammation, prevent exacerbations, and maintain normal activity levels. The main pillars of therapy include inhaled medications (controller and reliever), systemic medications for exacerbations, respiratory therapy, and — for selected patients — advanced biologic therapies or interventions like bronchial thermoplasty.

A clear understanding of the main medication classes and their roles helps patients and families make informed decisions.

Beyond medications, respiratory therapy is critical. Pulmonary rehabilitation combines breathing exercises, exercise training, education, and nutritional advice to improve symptom control and quality of life. Our respiratory therapists instruct patients in breathing exercises for asthma, correct inhaler technique, and use of peak flow meters.

Advanced therapies for selected patients include:

• Biologic therapy: Monoclonal antibodies (e.g., omalizumab, mepolizumab, benralizumab, dupilumab) are offered for patients with severe allergic or eosinophilic asthma not controlled with high-dose inhaled therapy.
• Bronchial thermoplasty: A bronchoscopic procedure that reduces airway smooth muscle in selected adults with severe asthma to decrease frequency of exacerbations. It is considered when medical therapy fails and after careful assessment.
• Long-term airway monitoring and pulmonary rehabilitation: For chronic asthma patients with reduced exercise tolerance or frequent exacerbations.

At Livasa Hospitals in Punjab, our approach is to match the right intervention to the right patient. For many people, regular asthma inhaler prescription with education and periodic spirometry provides excellent control. For those with difficult-to-control or chronic asthma, our multidisciplinary team — pulmonologists, respiratory therapists, allergy specialists, and pediatricians — evaluate advanced options including biologic therapy and bronchial thermoplasty where appropriate.

Chronic asthma management and personalized asthma action plans

Chronic asthma management aims to minimize symptoms, reduce the risk of exacerbations, and maintain normal activity and lung function. A cornerstone of care is an individualized asthma action plan Punjab that tells patients what medicines to take daily, how to recognize deterioration, and what to do in an emergency. At Livasa Hospitals, our asthma control plans are created collaboratively with patients and families, and adjusted during follow-ups.

Essential components of chronic asthma care:

• Regular controller medication: Daily inhaled corticosteroids or combination ICS-LABA as prescribed to keep inflammation suppressed.
• Rescue medication: An inhaled short-acting bronchodilator for quick relief of acute symptoms.
• Trigger management: Identification and control of environmental triggers (dust mites, pollen, tobacco smoke, pets, pollution). Practical steps for Punjab residents include using dust-mite-proof bedding, avoiding outdoor exertion during high pollution days, and improving indoor ventilation.
• Vaccination: Influenza and pneumococcal vaccines are recommended to prevent respiratory infections that can precipitate severe exacerbations.
• Self-monitoring: Using peak flow meters at home, recognizing early deterioration, and implementing the green/amber/red zones of the asthma action plan.
• Regular review and stepping-up or stepping-down therapy: Follow-up spirometry and symptom review to adjust medication intensity and minimize side effects.

Cost and access are important considerations. The cost of asthma treatment in Punjab varies by medication class, device type (metered-dose inhaler vs. dry powder inhaler vs. nebulizer), and the need for advanced therapies such as biologics or bronchial thermoplasty. Livasa Hospitals offers transparent counseling with options to optimize affordability — selecting effective but cost-conscious inhaler devices, instructing on correct technique to avoid wasted medication, and coordinating access to government or insurance-supported programs when available.

Adherence to therapy and proper inhaler technique are two of the most important determinants of control. Our respiratory therapists provide practical, hands-on asthma inhaler technique training Punjab, use of spacers for children, and education on cleaning and maintenance. For many patients, this simple investment in education reduces emergency visits and improves quality of life dramatically.

Emergency asthma care and preventing asthma attacks

An asthma attack can escalate rapidly. Immediate recognition and prompt action save lives. Livasa Hospitals provide emergency asthma care across our centers in Punjab, with trained emergency teams, nebulization protocols, oxygen therapy, and rapid access to intensive care if needed.

First aid steps for a suspected severe asthma attack:

1. Use rescue inhaler immediately: Administer short-acting bronchodilator (e.g., salbutamol) as instructed (usually 4–10 puffs via spacer or nebulized therapy if available).
2. Sit upright and stay calm: Try to stay seated and breathe slowly; panic worsens symptoms.
3. Call emergency services or go to the nearest Livasa emergency department: If there is poor response to inhaler, increasing breathlessness, drowsiness, or blue discoloration of lips/fingertips, call for immediate help or present to Livasa Mohali/Amritsar emergency.
4. Avoid triggers: Remove the patient from smoke or suspected allergen exposure where possible.
5. Follow the written asthma action plan: If an action plan is available, use the instructions in the red zone to seek urgent care.

At the hospital, emergency care may include repeated bronchodilator therapy (nebulized or inhaled), systemic corticosteroids, oxygen to maintain adequate saturation, and monitoring for complications. For severe attacks not responsive to initial therapy, advanced respiratory support including non-invasive ventilation or mechanical ventilation may be necessary. Livasa Hospitals maintain protocols for rapid assessment and escalation to intensive care units when required.

Preventing attacks requires consistent long-term control: adherence to controller therapy, trigger avoidance, vaccinations, and early treatment of respiratory infections. In Punjab, watchful control is especially important during months of high pollution and during seasonal pollen peaks. Patients with recurring emergency visits should be referred to a pulmonologist for assessment of adherence, inhaler technique, and suitability for advanced therapies like biologics.

Pediatric and adult asthma care at Livasa Hospitals in Punjab

Livasa Hospitals provide comprehensive care for both children and adults with asthma, with specialized services available at Livasa Mohali, Livasa Amritsar, Livasa Hoshiarpur, and Livasa Khanna. Our multidisciplinary teams include asthma specialists, pediatric pulmonologists, adult pulmonologists, respiratory therapists, and allergy specialists to deliver age-appropriate care and family-centered education.

Pediatric asthma care: Children present differently from adults — recurrent coughing, frequent chest infections, or noisy breathing are common presenting complaints. Our pediatric asthma clinic focuses on:

• Age-appropriate diagnosis: Interpreting spirometry where possible and using clinical criteria for younger children who cannot perform lung function tests.
• Inhaler and spacer training: Teaching parents how to use masks/spacers and how to administer medications safely.
• Growth monitoring: Balancing effective inhaled corticosteroid use with growth concerns and optimizing dosing.
• School asthma action plans: Written guidance for teachers and caregivers to manage episodes at school.

Adult asthma services focus on:

• Comprehensive assessment: Identifying comorbidities (sinus disease, GERD, sleep apnea) that worsen control.
• Occupational evaluation: Assessing and advising on workplace exposures and protective measures.
• Advanced therapies: Assessment for biologic therapy, bronchial thermoplasty, and enrollment in pulmonary rehabilitation programs.

Livasa Hospitals prioritize respiratory therapy in Punjab, with dedicated pulmonary rehabilitation programs, breathing retraining, and education on lifestyle modifications. Whether you need pediatric asthma specialist care in Mohali or adult asthma treatment in Amritsar, our centers are equipped to provide modern asthma care tailored to local needs. For appointments, call +91 80788 80788 or book online.

Key takeaways:

• Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that can be controlled with the right treatment and education.
• Early diagnosis with spirometry and specialist evaluation improves outcomes — available at Livasa Hospitals in Punjab.
• Asthma action plans and inhaler technique training are critical to preventing exacerbations.
• Advanced options such as biologics and bronchial thermoplasty are available for severe cases after specialist assessment.

This article provides general information and does not replace individualized medical advice. For personalized diagnosis and treatment, consult with a pulmonologist or asthma specialist at Livasa Hospitals. Locations include Livasa Mohali, Livasa Amritsar, Livasa Hoshiarpur, and Livasa Khanna. Teleconsultation and in-person visits are available.