There are two types of treatments to reduce the symptoms and
effects of an asthma attack using drugs that resemble two of our
natural hormones.
These are adrenaline (epinephrine in the USA) and the steroid
hydrocortisone and they form the basis for relievers that
provide quick relief of symptoms and preventers for longer term
care.
Most asthmatics use both preventers and relievers to form a
medical regime to control the asthma.
These medicines are usually taken as inhalers so that they can
be breathed in through the nose or mouth. Inhalers have
advantages over other forms of medication because...
*The medicine is delivered where it is required in the lungs and
so less of the medicine is needed.
*The medicine can be made to be biodegradable inside the body.
After it has done its work in the lungs it can be broken down in
the liver so there is little chance of harmful side effects.
*The medicine works more quickly.
Quick Relief Medicines
Drugs that resemble adrenaline (epinephrine) are known as
'relievers' and give rapid, short-term treatment and are used
for when the asthmatic has worsening symptoms that if left
untreated could lead to an asthma attack. The patient will feel
the effects of these medicines within minutes but they only last
a short time.
They are short-acting inhaled bronchodilators that work by
relaxing the muscles that have tightened around the airways.
They help open up the airways quickly and ease the patient's
breathing and are used only when needed. They are sometimes
called " rescue " or " relief " medicines because they can stop
an asthma attack very quickly and anyone who has asthma should
always carry one of these inhalers in case of an attack.
Long-Term Medicines
These are called preventers and are taken every day, usually
over long periods of time, to control chronic symptoms and to
prevent asthma episodes or attacks. Medicines which resemble
hydrocortisone slowly reduce the sensitivity the patient has
towards irritants and allergens that would normally trigger an
attack. It will take a few weeks to for them to show any
improvement and once an attack starts they do nothing to
alleviate it. Patients with persistent asthma need long-term
control medicines.
Long-term medication includes:
* The most effective and long-term medication for asthma is an
inhaled corticosteroid (or steroids for short) because this
reduces the swelling of the airways that makes attacks more
likely. This is the preferred treatment for controlling mild,
moderate, and severe asthma and are safe when taken as
prescribed by your doctor. There are many kinds of inhalers that
require different techniques, and it is important to know how to
use a inhaler in the correct way. In some cases, steroidal
tablets or liquid are used for short periods of times in order
to bring asthma under control.
* Long-acting beta-agonists are bronchodilators: these are not
anti-inflammatory drugs but are used to help control moderate
and severe asthma and to prevent night-time symptoms.
Long-acting beta-agonists are taken together with inhaled
corticosteroid medicine.
* Leukotriene modifiers (i.e., montelukast, zafirlukast, and
zileuton) are long-term control medicines that used either on
there own to treat mild cases asthma or used in tandem with
inhaled corticosteroids for moderate or even severe asthma.
* Cromolyn and nedocromil are also long-term medicines used only
to treat mild asthma.
* Theophylline is a long-termmedication used either on it's own
to treat mild asthma or along with inhaled corticosteroids to
treat moderate asthma. People who take theophylline should have
their blood levels checked to be sure the dose is correct.
Most asthmatics will need both a short-acting bronchodilator to
use when symptoms worsen and long-term daily asthma medication
to control the ongoing inflammation. Over time, a doctor needs
to make changes to the asthma medication, increasing or
decreasing doses and changing medication where required. The
desire should bd to use the least amount of medicine necessary
to control the asthma effectively.
Asthma Treatments with Relievers and Preventers
There two main types of medicines for the treatment of asthma:
*Quick Relief Medicines - also called relievers , and,
*Long-Term Medicines - also called preventers .
Quick Relief Medicines are fast acting, providing short-term
treatment within minutes and are taken when the patient feels
worsening asthma symptoms that can lead to an asthma attack.
Long-Term Control Medicines are taken daily, over long periods
of time, to control the disease.
About the author:
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