Asthma care in Dallas

Baylor University Medical Center, part of Baylor Scott & White Health, offers specialized allergy, asthma and pulmonary services. The Martha Foster Lung Care Center in Dallas has many options if you are short of breath from exercise, competitive sports or experience other breathing problems.

Asthma treatment options near you

Several asthma treatment options are available after evaluation, testing and diagnostics at the Baylor Martha Foster Lung Care Center.

The Dallas asthma program has two major objectives, to reduce asthma symptoms and control attacks. Our asthma program near you in Dallas offers:

  • Individualized medical programs using the most appropriate therapies
  • Self-management skills to teach patients how to take control of their asthma on a daily basis

By recognizing early symptoms, patients with asthma often can avoid an attack. Patients are taught to check their asthma conditions by using a peak flow meter.

Allergies and colds

Allergies and cold symptoms that lead to pneumonia, chronic bronchitis and other breathing problems can all be treated at the Baylor Lung Care Center. For more information, call 214.820.3500.

 

Martha Foster Lung Care Center

3410 Worth St.
Second Floor, Suite 250
Dallas, Texas 75246

Exercise enthusiasts and competitive athletes

Our Competitive Performance Program offers training options that can help you improve your exercise and performance and reach your competitive goals. Our trained staff provides evaluation; testing that includes cardiovascular and breathing tests; training; and education. If you would like to meet with a local trainer here in Dallas, we can make one available who will work with you for the duration of the Competitive Performance Program.

Severe asthma attacks

Asthma attacks may start suddenly. Or they may take a long time, even days, to develop. Attacks can be severe, moderate or mild.

When these happen, you may become breathless. As you're less and less able to breathe, you may have trouble talking. Your neck muscles may become tight as you breathe. Your lips and fingernails might turn a grayish or bluish color. The skin around the ribs of your chest might be sucked in; this happens most often in children. If you are using a peak flow meter you will drop below 50% of your personal best.

In case of a severe asthma attack:

  • Take your asthma medicine prescribed for an attack and get emergency medical help right away!
  • You can get into trouble if you wait too long to get help. This is how people die from asthma.
  • Go quickly to your healthcare provider's office or an emergency room. The sooner you see a healthcare provider, the faster you get the help you need.

Asthma testing in Dallas

Based on findings, asthma tests may be ordered, and some can be completed at our Dallas facility, while others may be ordered at labs or at a nearby radiology imaging center.

Patients with asthma are asked to complete forms for the evaluation. Each time patients return for an asthma management visit in Dallas, evaluation forms are completed. This provides up-to-date information to the asthma physician and staff.

The Baylor Martha Foster Lung Care Center in Dallas evaluates patients with asthma symptoms and then decides what types of tests are needed. 

Asthma tests may include:

  • Arterial blood gas
  • Bronchial provocation tests (Methacholine and Eucapnic)
  • Cardiopulmonary exercise test
  • DLCO—gas exchange
  • Lung volume test
  • Pulmonary function test
  • Pulse oximetry
  • Six-minute walk
  • Skin prick allergy test/Intradermal allergy test
  • Spirometry (before and after bronchodilator)

Bronchial thermoplasty 

Advanced treatment for severe asthma near you

Baylor Martha Foster Lung Care Center at Baylor University Medical Center Dallas now offers bronchial thermoplasty (BT), which may offer life-long reduction in severe asthma attacks.

People with severe asthma have an excess of smooth muscle tissue lining their airways. During an asthma attack, this muscle constricts the airways, making breathing difficult. BT can reduce excess smooth tissue in the airways.

BT does not replace current daily maintenance medications, but instead, it works with it to provide long-term stability in asthma symptoms and lessens severe asthma attacks requiring oral steroids.

In a clinical trial, almost 79% of asthma patients treated with BT reported significant improvement in their asthma-related quality of life, including reduction in asthma attacks, emergency room visits and hospitalizations for respiratory symptoms, as well as fewer days lost from work, school and other daily activities due to asthma.

Bronchial thermoplasty procedure

  • BT is typically performed under moderate sedation in three separate sessions scheduled three weeks apart.
  • Each session lasts about an hour and focuses on a different part of the lung to ensure all of the affected areas are treated.
  • The device is introduced into the airways through a bronchoscope that is inserted into the mouth or nose. No incision is required.
  • After the procedure, patients with asthma are monitored for two to four hours and discharged the same day.