Allergy and Pulmonary Doctors in Indiana Address Rising Asthma Cases

New statistics show asthma is rising. However, resources abound at Medical Specialists to help asthma patients better manage their symptoms.

2011-06-16

MUNSTER, IN, June 16, 2011 (Press-News.org) According to The Centers for Disease Control, the number of asthma cases in the U.S. is rising. New statistics show that nearly 1 in 12 Americans were diagnosed with Asthma by 2009 and that the number of people diagnosed with asthma in the U.S. grew by 4.3 million between 2001 and 2009. Sanjay Patel, M.D., a board-certified allergy and asthma specialist in Indiana at Medical Specialists says that despite improvements in outdoor air quality and decreased smoking and secondhand smoke exposure, asthma is still increasing.

Dr. Patel says he is particularly concerned with the high asthma rates in Lake County, IN, where most of his patients live. "Unfortunately, Lake County consistently ranks near the top of all Indiana counties for the greatest number of asthma related hospitalizations and ER visits," says Dr. Patel.

At their asthma and allergies center in Indiana, Dr. Patel works closely with his Medical Specialists colleagues to diagnose and treat asthma patients. Together, the Medical Specialists Departments of Pulmonary, Allergy and Asthma have numerous resources to help their patients. The Company offers comprehensive pulmonary function testing, spirometry and eNO testing designed to evaluate and monitor patients' lung function, monitor disease progression and diagnose asthma and other forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These tests ensure proper diagnosis, the development of proper treatment plans and help determine a treatment's effectiveness. Furthermore, Dr. Patel can perform comprehensive allergy skin testing to identify possible triggers to a patients' asthma such as molds, pollens, dust mites and pet dander. This information can be vital in developing a treatment plan that includes aggressive avoidance measures, specific medication regimens and allergy shots.

"While we don't know the cause of the asthma increase in the U.S., our top priority is getting our patients to better manage their symptoms," says Elliot Stokar, M.D., a board certified pulmonary medicine specialist and one of Dr. Patel's colleagues. "Fortunately for our patients, our comprehensive testing abilities allow us to do that," he says.

Medical Specialists also provides disease management education, including education on how to use inhalers and a comprehensive smoking cessation program.

To schedule an appointment with any of the providers at Medical Specialists Departments of Pulmonary, Allergy and Asthma, please call (219) 922-5416.

Medical Specialists is a unique healthcare organization comprised of highly trained and compassionate primary care and specialty care physicians and surgeons. Providing the highest quality healthcare to residents of Northwest Indiana since 1978, Medical Specialists brings university level medical care to the community setting. No matter where you live in Northwest Indiana, there's a Medical Specialist provider nearby. Call Medical Specialists Centers of Indiana at 219-934-0900 or contact them at www.medspecindiana.com for more information.

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