Adult Asthma Care

Why Choose UCLA Health for Adult Asthma Treatment?

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases, affecting more than 22 million adults in the United States. At UCLA Health, we provide advanced, comprehensive care for adults with asthma. Our multispecialty team offers a full range of treatments that reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Highlights of our program include:  

• Team-based care: Our pulmonologists collaborate with multiple specialists to offer you full-spectrum care. We meet regularly with otolaryngologists, allergists, gastroenterologists, sleep medicine specialists, interventional pulmonologists,  radiologists and integrative medicine specialists. We collaborate to care for patients with complex needs, working together to find the most effective treatment.
• Comprehensive approach: Many adults with asthma have other health conditions that affect asthma control. These conditions, also called comorbidities, include issues such as sleep apnea, acid reflux, chronic sinusitis and allergies. We account for all these factors, working with a variety of specialists to get you the care you need.
• Respiratory therapy education: We prioritize education to help you take control of managing asthma. Dedicated, highly trained registered nurses and respiratory therapists teach you proper inhaler use and breathing techniques. You may also schedule a nurse visit for in-depth instructions on using your inhaler.
• In-office testing: Our on-site pulmonary function laboratory allows you to get all relevant tests efficiently, often on the same day as your doctor visit. Pulmonary function tests help establish diagnoses, monitor treatment and track your progress.
• Advanced treatment options: Some people still experience disruptive asthma symptoms despite proper inhaler use. In these cases, biologic medications that decrease inflammation may help manage asthma. Our team offers these leading-edge treatments, which aren’t widely available elsewhere.
• Holistic therapies: We partner with the Center for East-West Medicine to integrate holistic therapies into your treatment plan, as appropriate and desired. Treatments such as cupping and acupuncture may aid in asthma management.

What Is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic (ongoing) condition characterized by inflammation in your airways. This inflammation causes your airways to squeeze, tighten and produce more mucus. Over time, the muscle around your airways thickens, affecting your lung function. Asthma is commonly diagnosed in childhood, but many people develop the condition as adults.

People with asthma experience episodes of symptoms, often called asthma attacks. These symptoms may include:  

• Coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing 

Understanding asthma triggers 

Often, specific triggers lead to asthma attacks. Common triggers include:  

• Allergies 
• Bacterial or viral infections 
• Environmental irritants, such as smoke, paint fumes or perfume 
• Exercise
• Poor air quality 
• Temperature changes 

Some people effectively manage asthma by identifying and avoiding their triggers. Sometimes, however, it’s difficult or impossible to avoid all your triggers, and lifestyle modifications alone don’t always control symptoms. In these cases, you may need further treatment.

Adult Asthma Treatments We Offer 

Our team provides a comprehensive range of personalized, effective asthma treatments. We work with you to find the right care plan for your needs, which may include:  

Inhaler therapy 

Most people with asthma use an inhaler to manage symptoms. With this treatment, you inhale steroid medications to reduce inflammation in your airways. Inhaled steroids can: 

• Decrease the need for a rescue inhaler, a device that delivers medication to stop an asthma attack 
• Prevent trips to urgent care or the emergency room
• Reduce your asthma symptoms 

Long-term, high dose inhaled steroid use can cause some side effects. However, our pulmonologists work with you to find the lowest effective dose to control symptoms and minimize side effects. In general, the risks of inhaled steroid use are much lower than the risks of uncontrolled asthma symptoms.

There are many types of inhalers. We help you find the right inhaler device and medication that work for your health needs and lifestyle.

How to use your inhaler

Biologic medications  

If you still experience severe asthma symptoms even with optimal inhaler therapy, you may be a candidate for biologic medicines. These medications work by disrupting the molecules that trigger inflammation in your airways.

Biologics are usually injectable medicines. You may receive injections in your doctor’s office or at our infusion center. Or your care team may teach you how to administer the injections at home. You typically get these injections every two to eight weeks.

Treatment to manage comorbidities 

Throughout treatment, you get testing to track whether your symptoms are improving. Sometimes, other health conditions affect whether your symptoms improve. If we know or suspect that you have another underlying condition (comorbidity), you may get treatment with other specialists who partner with our clinic, such as:  

• Allergists
• Ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctors
• East-West medicine doctors who provide holistic health services
• Gastroenterologists
• Sleep medicine specialists  

Meet Our Team

Our team includes experts in multiple specialties who work together to bring you full-spectrum treatment. We foster an environment of research, collaboration and excellence in asthma management.