COPD & Asthma Care in Huntsville, AL
Breathing problems get normalized. Patients tell us they have "just slowed down," and then we find out how much of that is treatable.
COPD and adult asthma are managed at IM Clinic through accurate diagnosis, the right inhaler regimen, technique review, vaccination, and a written plan for what to do when symptoms flare. The aim is fewer flares, fewer hospital visits, and more capacity for daily life.
Getting the diagnosis right
COPD and asthma are treated differently, and shortness of breath can also come from heart disease, anemia, deconditioning, or several of these at once. Diagnosis usually involves breathing tests (spirometry), history including smoking and occupational exposure, and sometimes imaging. Treating the wrong thing wastes months, so this step matters.
Inhalers and technique
Inhalers only work if they are used correctly, and studies consistently find that a large share of patients use them incorrectly. We watch you use yours and correct technique, one of the highest-yield, lowest-cost interventions available. We also work through cost and coverage, since an unaffordable inhaler is an ineffective one.
Preventing flares
Flare prevention includes vaccination against flu, COVID-19, pneumococcus, and RSV where appropriate; smoking cessation support that is real rather than perfunctory; identifying and reducing triggers; and treating the conditions that make breathing worse, including reflux, allergies, and sleep apnea.
When you get sick
Patients with COPD or asthma need a plan for bad days, not just good ones. We set out what to do when symptoms escalate, when to be seen, and when to go directly to the emergency department. Established patients can usually get a same-day appointment for a flare, which is often what keeps it from becoming a hospitalization.
This page is general information, not medical advice for your situation. Talk with your clinician about your own care.
Common questions
Can you do breathing tests in the office?
We evaluate your breathing and coordinate formal pulmonary function testing, referring when more detailed testing is needed. Call the office and we will explain what your evaluation would involve.
Do I need a pulmonologist?
Most COPD and adult asthma is managed in primary care. We refer for severe or poorly controlled disease, unclear diagnoses, or when advanced therapies are being considered.
Do you help with quitting smoking?
Yes, and it is the single most effective thing available for COPD. We discuss medication options and support that actually work rather than simply advising you to stop.
Are vaccines important with lung disease?
Very. Respiratory infections are a leading cause of flares and hospitalization in COPD and asthma. We keep your vaccinations current as part of routine care.
Other conditions we manage
Acne
Adult acne is common, treatable, and routinely dismissed. It is worth an actual visit rather than another shelf of products.
High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is not a number to be embarrassed about. It is one input into a risk calculation, and that calculation is what actually matters.
Chronic Kidney Disease
Kidney disease is usually found on a blood test, not because you felt it. Caught early, a great deal can be done to slow it down.
Appointments
How to get an appointment
Two paths, depending on whether we have seen you before.
New patients
Register, then we'll call you
Complete your registration online. It takes a few minutes. Our office contacts you to schedule your first visit and verify your insurance before you come in.
Existing patients
Request in the portal or the app
Send an appointment request through the patient portal or the athenaPatient app and our staff will schedule it. You can also text us at (256) 715-9598. For anything same-day or urgent, please call. The phone is faster.
Prefer to talk to someone? Call (256) 715-9598 during office hours: Monday through Wednesday 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Thursday and Friday 7:30 AM to noon. That same number accepts text messages.
Accepting new patients
Come see if we are a good fit for you. Register online in a few minutes, or call and we will walk you through it.
Already a patient? Request an appointment in the portal or use the athenaPatient app.