If you live with someone with asthma, you should know most effective treatments for short-term relief and long-term control.
Asthma Action Plan
Pulmonologists usually compile a detailed Asthma Action Guide for you, including following:
How to prevent further deterioration and progression of lesions
What medication to take for an asthma attack
How to manage an acute asthma attack
How to control asthma triggers
For asthma patients, inhaled drug therapy is most commonly used. These drugs are inhaled into airways to relieve tension in respiratory muscles and reduce airway hyperreactivity. Commonly used asthma medications include:
Short-acting beta-agonists: These are first choice for quick relief of asthma symptoms.
Anticholinergics: reduce mucus secretion and also widen airways. The duration of their action is longer than that of short-acting beta-agonists.
Oral corticosteroids: reduce airway edema and maintain airway patency.
Fast-acting combination drug: contains an anticholinergic drug and a short-acting beta-agonist. If you cannot use an inhaler, you can use a nebulizer. Long-acting prophylaxis
These drugs work for a long time, eliminating symptoms and preventing asthma attacks. They can reduce airway edema, prevent airway obstruction by mucus adherence, and reduce airway hyperresponsiveness. These drugs include:
Inhaled corticosteroids: Prevent airway swelling. They also reduce amount of mucus in body and are most effective drugs for long-term control.
Long-acting inhaled beta-agonists: Open airways by relaxing surrounding smooth muscles. This medicine must be taken with an inhaled corticosteroid.
Combination inhalation preparations: combination of an inhaled corticosteroid with a long-acting beta-agonist. This is an easy way to combine applications.
Biologicals. This drug is slightly more expensive and acts on cells or proteins in body to prevent respiratory infections. Injections can be given every few weeks.
Leukotrienes: Relax smooth muscles of airways, relieve swelling, and can be taken as a tablet.
Cromoline: Prevents airway swelling when exposed to asthma triggers.
Theophylline: relaxes smooth muscles of constricted airways and is available as a tablet, capsule, solution or syrup.
Long-acting bronchodilators. You can also use these hormones if your asthma symptoms persist despite taking daily steroids. Do not use long-acting bronchodilators alone for long-term asthma treatment.
Oral corticosteroids. Your doctor may recommend that you take these medicines in tablet or liquid form for several weeks if no other medicines can control your asthma attack. How do I take my asthma medication?
Asthma inhaler
Asthma inhalers are most common and effective delivery method, in which medication is delivered to the respiratory tract via inhalation to achieve an asthma control effect.
Asthma Nebulizer
If you have difficulty using a small inhaler (if your breathing muscles are too weak or if your heart and lungs are weak), your doctor may prescribe an asthma nebulizer. The machine turns asthma medicine from a liquid to a mist, making it easier for medicine to reach lungs. It also has a face mask, making it a great nebulizer option for infants, toddlers, seniors, or anyone who has difficulty using an inhaler.
Additional treatment/prevention of asthma
Medicines are not only way to control asthma, your doctor may recommend you try:
1. Breathing exercises. Regular exercise of respiratory muscles will help you prevent asthma attacks and reduce drug dependency.
2. Try to avoid "triggers" of asthma:
Many environmental factors can trigger an asthma attack. By controlling them, you can reduce your chances of getting asthma. Common triggers include:
Pet hair. If you can't live without pets, at least keep them out of your bedroom so you don't "scatter" pet hair all over place.
Dust mites. Sheets, bedspreads and carpets can have a lot of dust mites that have not been washed for a long time, so remember to wash them in time or expose them to sun;
Pollen. Many asthma and allergy sufferers should pay attention to pollen, so try to stay away from it;
Smoking. If you smoke, ask someone to help you quit smoking, and secondly, don't let other people smoke in your house or car.
Cockroaches. Store food and trash in closed containers and get rid of household pests to avoid unnecessary infestation;
Cold air. Protect your mouth and nose in cold weather.
Internal mold. When leaking pipes, moldy corners, towels, etc., do not forget to disinfect and sterilize in time.
Asthma is a common and serious condition that requires proper medical diagnosis and treatment. If you have been diagnosed with asthma, remember to take your medication on time to control it, pay attention to daily care, and try to avoid "asthma triggers". If you have severe symptoms or complications, be sure to go to hospital in time.
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