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Dr. Heidi Leigh Shaff, MD is a pediatrician in Boston, MA specializing in general pediatrics. She graduated from University of Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. Heidi Leigh Shaff, MD is affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital.
Massachusetts General Hospital
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung disease where the tissue and airways of the lungs become extremely sensitive to certain substances. When these substances are breathed in, the lungs become inflamed. The muscles around the airways tighten and squeeze the lungs, and passages within the lungs swell and tighten. The airways themselves produce mucus, which further clogs the tightened, swollen airways. A person having an asthma attack finds it very difficult to breathe, and a severe attack can even be fatal.
Asthma affects people of all ages, but people with asthma are most often diagnosed as children. Symptoms can include wheezing, a tight feeling in the chest, shortness of breath, and coughing. Some people have mild symptoms all the time, and some people have no symptoms at all, but everyone with asthma is susceptible to occasional severe attacks or flare-ups of symptoms when they are exposed to triggers. Triggers vary widely but can include:
Treatment for most asthma patients involves three steps. Patients learn what their asthma triggers are and avoid them. They take a daily control medication, usually an inhaled corticosteroid, to reduce inflammation in the lungs. Also, they have rescue medication with them at all times to take in case of a severe attack. These quick-acting inhaled medications relax the muscles around the airways and allow the lungs to open up for air.
There is no cure for asthma, but with treatment it should not interfere with daily life and activities.
Dr. Heidi Leigh Shaff, MD graduated from University of Massachusetts Medical School. She completed residency at Children's Hospital Boston. She is certified by the Pediatrics, American Board of Pediatrics and has a state license in Massachusetts.
Medical School: University of Massachusetts Medical School
Residency: Children's Hospital Boston
Board Certification: Pediatrics, American Board of Pediatrics
Licensed In: Massachusetts
Dr. Heidi Leigh Shaff, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:
Dr. Heidi Leigh Shaff, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, MultiPlan, Tufts Health Plan, United Healthcare, Aetna, TRICARE, Humana, Coventry, Cigna, Blue California, Beech Street, WellPoint, WellSense, Fallon Health, Commonwealth Care Alliance, Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare, Maine Community Health Options, Mass General Brigham Health Plan, WellSense NH and MassHealth ACO.
According to our sources, Dr. Heidi Leigh Shaff, MD accepts the following insurance providers:
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Dr. Heidi Shaff sees patients in Quincy, MA, Boston, MA, and Braintree, MA. Her medical specialty is general pediatrics. Her clinical interests include primary care and asthma. She is professionally affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Shaff is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She trained at Children's Hospital Boston for residency. Dr. Shaff is in-network for several insurance carriers, including Blue California, Coventry, and Viant.
