Asthma treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Yes, you can. A physician on Maple will be happy to discuss asthma with you. If you are experiencing asthma exacerbation, you should seek in-person care.

If you believe that you could be experiencing symptoms or signs of asthma, the doctor will arrange a physical exam to rule out other possible conditions.

Depending on your condition, the doctor may also suggest other additional testing be done before offering an asthma diagnosis.

Yes, our physicians can prescribe asthma medications online during your consultation. Once you accept an asthma prescription, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy, or have it delivered right to your door at no additional cost.

You can visit our How it works page to learn more.

Asthma is an inflammatory disease, which causes your airways to swell and become narrower. This may also cause you to produce extra mucus.

Asthma can be both minor or severe, depending on the person. At this time, there's no cure for asthma. However, with treatment, asthma symptoms can be controlled.

There are many different types of asthma, including:

• Occupational asthma (involving triggers in the workplace)
• Allergic asthma (also called extrinsic asthma)
• Nonallergic asthma (also called intrinsic asthma)
• Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB)
• Cough-variant asthma (CVA)
• Nocturnal asthma
• Aspirin-induced asthma

Most commonly, signs of asthma appear as squealing, whistling, or wheezing sounds that occur when you breathe.

Other common asthma symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty breathing
• Tightness in the chest
• Fatigue or exhaustion
• Feelings of panic or anxiousness
• Coughing (especially when laughing, during exercise or at night)

When asthma symptoms become severe or appear acutely, it can cause an 'asthma attack. Left untreated, severe asthma attacks can be life-threatening.

The causes for your asthma also help determine what type of asthma you're experiencing.

For example, allergic asthma symptoms can be triggered by things like dust, pollen, mold, pet dander, or even foods.

On the other hand, nonallergic asthma can be caused by things like viral illnesses, cold air, smoke, or irritants like perfumes or chemical cleaners.

Typically, most types of asthma are caused by some sort of irritant or trigger that results in the signs of asthma appearing.

In many cases, you'll need to visit a doctor and get an accurate asthma diagnosis to receive asthma treatments that will be effective for your specific condition.

Before offering an asthma diagnosis or any kind of asthma treatments, your doctor will want to perform a physical examination and discuss your medical history.

They will also want to test your lung function, to determine how much air is moving in and out as you breathe.

The doctor may also suggest additional testing in order to confirm a possible asthma diagnosis. These tests could include:

• Imaging tests
• Allergy testing
• Methacholine challenge (an asthma trigger)
• Sputum eosinophils (testing for white blood cells in mucus discharge from coughing)
• Nitric oxide tests
• Exercise or cold-air tests (as asthma triggers)

If you've never had an asthma diagnosis, and you're beginning to show symptoms or signs of asthma, you should talk to a doctor. They will be able to offer suggestions to manage your symptoms and help diagnose asthma, if it's present.

Also, if you’ve received an asthma diagnosis, but your symptoms are worsening, or you’re experiencing nighttime symptoms, the doctor can suggest alternative asthma treatments.

Because there is no cure for asthma, it's important to have an ongoing, long-term action plan in place with your doctor to manage your condition.

Maple is a virtual care platform that connects you with our network of Canadian-licensed doctors, nurse practitioners and specialists via secure text, audio or video call. Sign in to your Maple account to start a visit. Learn more about how Maple works here.

A visit works a lot like an in-person appointment. A doctor or nurse practitioner will ask about your symptoms, review your health history and recommend a treatment plan that's right for you. Not every visit leads to a prescription. Sometimes, you might need to see someone in person. When that happens, we'll help you figure out what comes next.

As a Maple member, you get 24/7 access to care online. Connect with our network of Canadian-licensed doctors and nurse practitioners in minutes via secure text, audio or video call.

Membership is $85/month. One membership. Care for your whole family. In eligible provinces, membership includes:

• Daily visits: one visit a day with a doctor or nurse practitioner for each family member in your household
• Pediatric care: covered pediatric primary care visits, available by appointment
• Second Medical Opinion: when you're unsure about a complex diagnosis, like cancer or MS, or want to understand all your options, you and your family can access an expert Second Medical Opinion
• Personal Health Check-Ins: personalized, evidence-based proactive care screenings to help you stay on top of your health
• iCBT courses: internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy self-assessments and courses
• Specialists: see a specialist in days, not months. No referral necessary.
• Specialist referrals: a referral to a physician specialist for in-person care, if needed

Membership can't be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. A Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) may cover your membership fees. Check with your HSA provider for details.

Your Maple monthly membership covers virtual care for you, your spouse and your dependents under the age of 18 who share the same primary residence. Full disclaimer and refund policy here.

We accept all major credit cards, including AMEX, plus Google Pay and Apple Pay.

Privacy is at the core of how we deliver care. We follow Canadian privacy and healthcare laws, including PIPEDA and PHIPA, to protect your personal and health information.

Our policies and consent processes are simple and easy to understand, so you stay in control. Strong security infrastructure and strict data policies protect every session. You keep control of your personal health information, medical records and test results at all times. We also work with privacy and security experts and review our policies regularly.

All doctors and nurse practitioners who deliver care through Maple are licensed in Canada and governed by their regulatory colleges. They must follow the telemedicine policies set by the medical regulator in each province.

Regulators across Canada recognize the value of virtual care. It helps improve access to care for patients and makes care delivery more efficient for practitioners and Canada's healthcare system.