Asthma Care
Asthma Care
Physician-led, ongoing asthma management for adults across Illinois, focused on real control instead of refilling the same inhaler year after year.
If you have asthma, you have probably learned to work around it. You carry a rescue inhaler, you avoid the things that set you off, and you tell yourself that a few bad nights or a stubborn winter cough is just part of having asthma.
It does not have to be that way.
- Same-Day & Next-Day Visits
- No Copays, No Insurance Hassle
- Triple Board-Certified Physician
About 800,000 adults in Illinois currently live with asthma, and roughly half of them do not have it under control. Many have been handed a prescription, told to come back if things get worse, and left to manage a lifelong condition mostly on their own.
At Sina Medical Direct Primary Care, asthma is treated as what it is: a chronic condition that needs steady attention, not a problem you only deal with during a flare-up. Under the care of Dr. Ali, we focus on getting your breathing genuinely controlled and keeping it that way.
You are not overreacting for wanting to breathe normally every day. That is the whole point.
Why Most Asthma Care Leaves You Stuck
Most asthma care falls short for one simple reason. It reacts to attacks instead of preventing them.
What is really triggering your symptoms?
Are you on the right type of inhaler, or just the one you happened to start with?
How often are you reaching for your rescue inhaler?
Is something else, like allergies, reflux, or weight, making your asthma worse?
When those questions go unasked, people stay on autopilot. They lean on a quick-relief inhaler far more than they should, which is a sign of asthma that is not controlled, not asthma that is well managed. Across Illinois, fewer than half of adults with asthma use their medications the way guidelines recommend.
Good asthma care takes time, follow-up, and a physician who knows your history. That is hard to find in a system built around volume.
What Ongoing Asthma Management Actually Means
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways. Those airways stay sensitive even when you feel fine, and they overreact to triggers by tightening, swelling, and producing extra mucus. That is what causes wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
Identifying your triggers, so you can reduce contact with the things that set off your symptoms.
Using the right medications, which usually means a daily controller to calm airway inflammation plus a rescue inhaler for symptoms, both used correctly and reviewed on a regular basis.
Tracking your control, using simple tools and check-ins so changes are caught early instead of after an attack.
Following a clear plan, often called an asthma action plan, that tells you exactly what to do as your symptoms change.
Treating the full picture, including allergies, sinus issues, acid reflux, sleep, and weight, all of which can make asthma harder to control.
When these pieces are in place, most people reach for their rescue inhaler far less and spend far fewer days feeling limited by their breathing.
Meet Your Physician
Dr. Ali's Approach to Asthma
Dr. Ali is a triple board-certified physician in Internal Medicine, Obesity Medicine, and Lifestyle Medicine. Asthma sits squarely within internal medicine, and her training in lifestyle and metabolic health adds real value here, because conditions like excess weight, reflux, and poor sleep often make asthma tougher to keep in check.
Her asthma care includes:
A thorough evaluation of your symptoms, history, and triggers
Review and adjustment of your controller and rescue medications
Inhaler technique coaching, which is one of the most common and most fixable problems
A personalized, written asthma action plan
Management of related conditions such as allergies, reflux, and weight
Coordination with pulmonology or allergy specialists when asthma is severe or difficult to control
What We Help You Manage
Asthma rarely acts alone. Our care addresses the condition itself and the factors around it.
How Our Asthma Program Works
Full Evaluation
We start by understanding your asthma in detail. That means your history, your symptoms, how often you use your inhalers, what seems to trigger you, and how asthma affects your daily life. When it helps, we assess your breathing and review related conditions.
A Plan Built Around You
Based on that evaluation, we set the right medication approach, confirm your inhaler technique, and create a written asthma action plan so you always know what to do as symptoms shift.
Getting to Control
If your asthma is not well controlled, we adjust your treatment and address what is making it worse, from allergies to reflux to weight, until your breathing settles.
Ongoing Follow-Up
Asthma changes with the seasons and over time. We stay in touch, recheck your control, and update your plan so you keep breathing easily, with direct access to your physician between visits.
What You Can Expect
With consistent, physician-led care, many people with asthma find they have:
The goal is simple. Breathing that does not hold you back.
Take the First Step
Living with asthma should not mean quietly living around it. With the right plan and a physician who stays involved, most people breathe better than they have in years.
Start physician-led asthma care built around real, lasting control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can asthma be cured?
No. Asthma is a chronic condition, but for most people it can be controlled so well that symptoms rarely get in the way of daily life.
How is this different from getting an inhaler at urgent care?
Urgent care treats the attack in front of you. We manage asthma over time, find what triggers it, set the right medications, and follow up so attacks happen far less often.
How do I know if my asthma is controlled?
Good control usually means few daytime symptoms, rare nighttime waking, little rescue inhaler use, and no limits on your activity. If that is not your experience, your asthma likely needs attention.
Do I need to be on daily medication?
Many people with persistent asthma benefit from a daily controller inhaler to prevent symptoms. Whether you need one depends on your evaluation, and your physician will walk you through it.
What is an asthma action plan?
It is a simple written guide that tells you which medications to use and what steps to take as your symptoms change, so you are never guessing during a flare-up.
Can you manage my asthma virtually?
Yes. Much of asthma care, including reviews, plan adjustments, and follow-ups, can be handled through telemedicine across Illinois.
What if my asthma is severe?
We manage most asthma directly in primary care and coordinate with pulmonology or allergy specialists when a case is severe or hard to control.
Do I need insurance to be seen?
No. Our Direct Primary Care model does not require insurance and gives you straightforward access to your physician.
Can you help with my allergies too?
Yes. Allergies often drive asthma symptoms, so we treat them together as part of your overall plan.
How often should I be seen for asthma?
It varies. Well-controlled asthma may need only periodic check-ins, while less stable asthma needs closer follow-up, which is included in your membership.
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Syeda Farheen Ali, MD Triple Board-Certified Physician in Internal Medicine, Obesity Medicine, and Lifestyle Medicine Last updated: July 2026
The Problem
Why the Traditional System Fails Patients
What an ER or urgent care bills for issues we treat the same day
The average appointment in traditional, insurance-driven care
Of patients delay or skip care over cost, wait times, or access
A flat Sina membership — everything included, no copays, no surprise bills
What's Covered
Everything Included In Your Membership
One flat monthly membership covers comprehensive care across every category below — with no copays, no hidden fees, and direct access to Dr. Ali.
- Unlimited same-day and next-day visits
- Telehealth across Illinois
- Direct text and call access to Dr. Ali
- Annual physicals and preventive care
- Acute and urgent care (flu, UTI, strep, rash, ear infections)
- Chronic disease management (diabetes, hypertension, thyroid, COPD, sleep apnea)
- Women's health: HRT, menopause care, Pap smears, breast exams
- Men's health: testosterone, preventive care, cardiovascular health
- GLP-1 prescriptions (Semaglutide, Tirzepatide)
- Medical weight loss management
- Labs at wholesale cost (70 to 90 percent off retail)
- Generic medications at cost
- Specialist referral coordination
- Sick Visits
- Cold, Flu & Viral Illness Treatment
- Sore Throat & Strep Testing
- Sinus Infections
- Pneumonia Evaluation & Treatment
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Treatment
- STI Testing & Sexual Health Screening
- Skin Rashes & Minor Skin Conditions
- Minor Lacerations & Wound Care
- Suture/staple Removal
- Muscle Strains & Sprains
- Joint Pain Evaluation
- Ear Wax Removal
- Return-to-Work Clearance Visits
- Stomach Flu & Digestive Illnesses
- Well-Woman Exams, Pap Smear
- Menopause & Perimenopause Care
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
- Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (BHRT)
- Pap Smears & Cervical Cancer Screening
- Insulin Resistance & Metabolic Health Support
- Thyroid Hormone Optimization
- Fatigue & Hormonal Imbalance Treatment
- Weight Loss for Women
- Preventive Women's Health Care
- Men's Preventive Care
- Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)
- Hormone Optimization for Men
- Men's Weight Loss Programs
- Andropause / Male Menopause Support
- Metabolic Health & Energy Optimization
- Physician-Guided Weight Loss Programs
- GLP Therapy (Semaglutide / Tirzepatide)
- Personalized Nutrition Counseling
- Exercise & Lifestyle Planning
- Metabolic Syndrome Management
- Insulin Resistance & Prediabetes
- Ongoing Progress Monitoring
- Bariatric Surgery Referrals When Appropriate
- Diabetes & Prediabetes
- High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
- High Cholesterol (Dyslipidemia)
- Thyroid Disorders
- Asthma & COPD
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Sleep Apnea
- Fatty Liver Disease & IBS
- Osteoarthritis & Osteoporosis
- Heartburn & Acid Reflux
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Lifestyle Medicine Counseling
- Sustainable Habit Development
- Disease Prevention & Risk Reduction
- Long-Term Wellness Planning
- Nutrition & Exercise Coaching
- Functional & Root-Cause Focused
- Stress & Sleep Optimization
Healthcare as It Should Be — Personalized, Accessible, Affordable
Join Sina Medical Direct Primary Care and experience healthcare that's personal, preventive, and truly built around you — not the insurance system.