Asthma Program

Asthma is a chronic condition that causes inflammation and a narrowing of the airways, making it more difficult to breathe. The Respiratory Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi brings together a diverse team of specialists, including pulmonologists, allergists, ENT physicians and intensivists, to offer comprehensive care for patients with asthma, with the goal of helping them manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

What We Treat

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways, causing wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. Asthma affects people of all ages, but it most often begins during childhood. This inflammation can have a number of triggers, including allergies and viral infections.

Once a diagnosis of asthma is established, and the associated conditions are identified, the Respiratory Institute’s Asthma Program offers:

• Routine monitoring of symptoms and lung function
• Ongoing patient education
• Controlling environmental factors that trigger asthma attacks
• Pharmacological therapy
• Bronchoscopy.

The most effective treatments for asthma vary, depending on the type of asthma the patient has and the level of severity.

Diagnosis of Asthma

Diagnosing asthma is often straightforward and done based on the patient’s history and symptoms. Complex breathing tests or exercise tests are sometimes needed. All these tests are available at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Treatment of Asthma

Specific treatment approaches vary, depending on the severity of asthma and the patient’s specific needs. Treatment aims to reduce the intensity and frequency of asthma symptoms and the degree to which the patient is affected by these symptoms, as well as reducing the risk of complications caused by asthma.

Treatment methods may include:

• Inhalers and oral medications: These treatments are designed to both ease and prevent symptoms.
• Immunotherapy: Desensitizes the body to allergens that can trigger inflammation of the airways.
• Biological therapy: Helps control the body’s overactive immune responses, which reduces swelling in the airway and makes it easier to breathe.
• Bronchial thermoplasty: In this procedure, which is sometimes used in more severe cases of asthma, controlled heat energy is used to relieve the airway swelling seen in asthma patients. Bronchial thermoplasty is performed using a dedicated catheter passed through a flexible bronchoscope. This treatment can significantly reduce asthma symptoms, helping to bring the disease under control.