Did you know? In the United States, asthma affects almost 25 million Americans, sending over a million people to the emergency room and resulting in almost half a million hospitalizations and over three thousand asthma-related deaths. As a pulmonologist, board-certified in Pulmonary Medicine, Sleep Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Critical Care Medicine, Dr. J. Georges Youssef treats any diseases or conditions that might keep your body from accessing the air you need for a healthy life.
“Some patients find their asthma is well controlled with medication,” he says, “but other patients need even more help. If you’ve been living with persistent asthma which isn’t well controlled by your inhaled corticosteroids or long-acting beta-agonists, there’s another option. Bronchial Thermoplasty is a FDA-approved, drug-free procedure that can reduce the frequency of asthma attacks…and get you back to your life.”
Wheezing, gasping, panic, and anxiety come with an asthma attack. Dr. Youssef says, “The underlying cause of severe asthma is an excess of smooth muscle tissue lining the airways. During an asthma attack, this muscle constricts the airways, making breathing difficult…and that’s a terrifying feeling. Bronchial Thermoplasty reduces the amount of excess muscle and helps minimize the narrowing of your airways during an asthma attack. If you are over eighteen, already on asthma medication, and are still missing work or school or ending up in the emergency room or hospital due to severe allergy attacks, Bronchial Thermoplasty can dramatically improve your quality of life.”
“The treatment consists of three procedures performed over a nine week period. Most patients are released from the hospital the same day of the procedure. With the Bronchial Thermoplasty treatment, controlled thermal energy is applied to the smooth muscle in the airways. This thermal energy reduces excessive airway smooth muscle, so you can breathe more easily. Each treatment session lasts about an hour and we’ll monitor you for the next two to four hours. The most common side effect is a temporary worsening of asthma symptoms. After the final treatment, we expect your asthma medications to be sufficient to control your asthma…so you can enjoy your normal activities without fear!”
Asthma doesn’t have a cure, but it can be controlled! Dr. Youssef says, “In a clinical trial, almost 79% of patients treated with BT reported significant improvements in their asthma-related quality of life—including a reduction in asthma attacks, ER visits and hospitalizations for respiratory symptoms, and fewer days lost from work, school, and other daily activities due to asthma. I want all my patients to enjoy living their lives…without worrying about every single breath they take!”
J. Georges Youssef, M.D.
713-781-4600
1429 Hwy. 6 South, Ste 303
Sugar Land, TX 77478