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Asthma Treatment

Although there is no cure for asthma, effective management is available for preventing attacks and controlling and ending attacks soon after they have begun.

Asthma medications are taken orally or inhaled in vapour form using a metered-dose inhaler. This is a hand-held pump which delivers medicine directly to a person's airways.

There are two kinds of asthma medication: bronchodilators, which reduce broncho-spasms; and anti-inflammatory medications, which reduce airway inflammation.

Immunotherapy is another treatment option for asthma caused by allergens. This form of therapy modifies a person’s allergic response by repeated exposure to small amounts of allergens.

By breathing into a PEFR, a small hand-held device called a flow meter, an asthmatic can find out when their airways are first starting to narrow. When the PEFR falls, asthma medication is probably needed to prevent an attack.




Note:
 PEFR and medication should only ever be used under a physician’s guidance.

There are two basic kinds of medication for the treatment of asthma:

Long-term control medications – These are used on a regular basis to prevent attacks and not to be used for treatment during an attack.

These include : -

    • inhaled steroids (e.g., Azmacort, Vanceril, AeroBid, Flovent) prevent inflammation
    • leukotriene inhibitors (e.g., Singulair, Accolate)
    • long-acting bronchodilators (e.g., famoterol, Serevent) help open airways
    • cromolyn sodium (Intal) or nedocromil sodium
    • aminophylline or theophylline (This isn't used as frequently as it was in the past)
    • a combination of anti-inflammatory and bronchodilators, using either separate inhalers or a single inhaler (Advair Diskus)


Quick relief (rescue) medications – which are used to relieve the symptoms during an acute attack.

    • short-acting bronchodilators (e.g., Proventil, Ventolin, Xopenex, and others)
    • oral or intravenous corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone, methylprednisolone) which help to stabilize severe episodes of asthma.


People with mild asthma (infrequent attacks) can use their relief medication as needed, but those with persistent asthma problems should take their control medications on a regular basis to prevent their symptoms from occurring.

A severe asthma attack requires a medical evaluation and may even require hospitalization with oxygen, intravenous therapy and medications being required.

How to Approach Asthma Management
 A winning approach to asthma management is critically dependent on using the correct anti-inflammatory medications with broncho-dilatorswhich areneeded for immediate and occasional relief of symptoms of asthma.

  • Anti-Inflammatory - Preventers: Anti-inflammatory medication is used to treat the inflammation caused by exposure to inducers.
  • Bronchodilators - Relievers (Rescue medication)
     Bronchodilators are used to relieve Broncho-constriction which is provoked by triggers.

Medications: Anti-inflammatory
A successful move towards decent asthma management, both in and out of an acute hospital setting is dependent upon the accurate use of anti-inflammatory treatment and bronchodilators being prescribed for immediate and occasional relief of any symptoms shown.

Anti-inflammatory medications work mostly by interfering with the activity and chemistry of immune cells, such as mast cells, which cause inflammation in the airway walls. Anti-inflammatory medication also helps rest the airway muscles that narrow and constrict during broncho-spasms.

Anti-Inflammatory Medications (Preventers)

These:-

  • prevent and reduce inflammation, swelling and mucus in the airways
  • put a stop to symptoms such as cough, wheeze and breathlessness
  • need to be taken on a regular basis are slow acting (over hours or weeks)

 


>> Types of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs >>