Asthma

Commonly Asked Questions
You can develop asthma at any age, although for most people this happens during childhood. Allergies and tobacco exposure can lead to asthma developing later in life.
Inhalers are the main treatment for asthma. They generally fall into two categories: preventers and relievers. Preventive inhalers are often corticosteroids, and they work to prevent symptoms and asthma attacks in the long term. Relievers (also sometimes called rescue medications) alleviate symptoms right away.
There is no cure for asthma. However, there are many treatments available that can help you to effectively manage symptoms so that your asthma doesn’t negatively affect your life too much.
During an asthma attack, you'll likely experience a worsening of your usual asthma symptoms (including coughing and chest tightness), breathing that is faster than normal, gasping for air, wheezing, and an inability to talk, eat, or perform other everyday activities.
Asthma has numerous symptoms but some of the more prevalent symptoms are wheezing, cough, breathlessness, and a tight chest.

Jon E. Stahlman, MD
Jon E. Stahlman, MD, has been a practicing allergist for more than 25 years. He is currently the section chief of allergy and immunology at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta's Scottish Rite campus and the senior physician at The Allergy & Asthma Center in Atlanta. He served as the president of the Georgia Allergy Society, has been named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, and was listed as a Top Doctor by Atlanta magazine. His research interests include new therapies for asthma and allergic rhinitis as well as the use of computerized monitoring of lung function.
He received his bachelor's and medical degrees from Emory University. He completed his pediatric residency at Boston Children’s Hospital and his fellowship in allergy and clinical immunology at Harvard University’s Boston Children’s Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. After his training, Dr. Stahlman conducted two years of clinical research at Boston Children’s Hospital and was part of the faculty at Harvard Medical School, where he taught medical students and allergy and immunology fellows.
Stahlman is board-certified and recertified in allergy and clinical immunology. He served as a principal investigator on phase 2 through 4 studies that are responsible for most of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration–approved therapies for allergies and asthma available today.
Outside of the office, he centers his interests around his wife and three daughters, coaching soccer for many years, and his hobbies include cycling and triathlons.
- Asthma. Mayo Clinic. May 2024.
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