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Respiratory Therapy

BBGH's Respiratory Therapy team provides treatment, monitoring, and evaluation and management for patients with breathing disorders or cardiovascular problems.

Respiratory therapists treat all types of patients, ranging from premature infants whose lungs are not fully developed to older adults with lung disease. They also provide emergency care to patients who are victims of accidents, heart attacks, stroke, shock and drowning, as well as providing temporary relief to patients with chronic asthma or COPD.

Ask your primary care provider about receiving respiratory therapy.

A sleep study may help in diagnosing conditions related to breathing disorders. To find out more, visit our Sleep Studies page.

Learn more about the most common form of asthma. (2 min. read)

Understanding allergic asthma

Allergies are bad enough when they make your eyes water and your nose run.

But for many Americans, allergies are more than merely annoying—they're potentially dangerous. That's because many adults and children are living with allergic asthma, reports the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Allergic asthma is the most common form of asthma. It accounts for most asthma cases.

Breathing in trouble

As is the case with all types of asthma, allergic asthma has these symptoms, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI):

  • Wheezing.
  • Coughing.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Rapid breathing.
  • Chest tightness.

But unlike other kinds of asthma, allergic asthma is the result of an allergic reaction. A person who has allergic asthma develops symptoms after breathing in an allergen, such as pollen, mold spores or animal dander. The allergen causes passages in the airways of the lungs to become inflamed and swollen. This leads to an asthma attack.

In contrast, nonallergic asthma attacks are often triggered by irritants such as exercise, cold or dry air, respiratory infections, cigarette smoke, stress, or anxiety.

Getting help

If you suspect you have allergic asthma, see your doctor.

Your doctor may ask you to keep a log of when your asthma symptoms flare up. Or your doctor may even suggest allergy testing.

If you do have allergic asthma, it's important to get the disease under control. That's because without proper treatment, asthma can be potentially life-threatening.

If the asthma is very mild, your only treatment may be trying to avoid whatever triggers your allergy.

But chances are you'll also be prescribed certain asthma medications. According to the AAAAI:

  • A bronchodilator to ease breathing problems as soon as they develop.
  • Corticosteroids to help prevent asthma attacks.
  • Allergy shots to make you less sensitive to allergens.

Once it is diagnosed, allergic asthma can be effectively treated.

Reviewed 11/7/2025