But a number of treatments for asthma are available — both to help prevent symptoms and to treat them when they do occur. Without proper treatment, asthma may get worse as you get older, with asthma attacks increasing in their frequency and severity.
Quickly improve symptoms when they occurPrevent symptoms and attacksImprove your sleep and activity level
The treatment your doctor prescribes for your asthma will likely depend on your age, type of asthma, severity of your condition, and how your body responds to various treatment options. Finding the right treatment to control your asthma symptoms may require trying various methods, and what works for you can change over time. Metered-dose inhaler (MDI) This is the most commonly used type of inhaler. It has a boot-shaped mouthpiece into which a pressurized, medicine-containing canister is inserted. This design has been in use since 1956. You deliver a measured dose of the medicine to your lungs by inserting the mouthpiece into your mouth and pushing down on the canister while inhaling. Your MDI may have a counter that tells you how many doses are left in the canister. It may be difficult to coordinate your inhalation with the release of medicine from your inhaler. But this step is essential to ensuring that the medicine reaches your lungs (the main goal of inhaled therapy). To decrease the chance that the medicine stays in your mouth, you can attach a holding chamber called a spacer to your MDI. (Some MDIs have built-in spacers.) Spacers temporarily hold the released medicine, allowing you to inhale slowly, deeply, and at your own pace to get the full dose into your lungs. Some MDIs, called breath-actuated inhalers, automatically release a puff of medicine when you inhale. Be sure you know how to use whichever type of inhaler your doctor prescribes to you; and double-check that you are using it correctly (more on how to use an inhaler below). If you have questions about usage or any instructions are unclear, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or healthcare provider. While MDIs originally used chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as their propellant, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) phased out all CFC-based albuterol inhalers in 2008 owing to the environmental damage caused by CFCs. Dry-powder inhaler This type of device doesn’t use a chemical propellant to launch medicine into your lungs. Instead, it contains a powdered formula that you draw into your lungs with a deep, fast inhalation. RELATED: Digital Inhaler With Built-In Sensors Wins FDA Approval
Anyone Having Difficulty Using an Inhaler Can Try a Nebulizer
While not technically an inhaler, there’s yet another option for inhaling medicine. Nebulizer If you have severe asthma and are unable to use a regular inhaler, a nebulizer may be a better option. This machine turns liquid medicine into a fine mist that you inhale through a mouthpiece, a mask that fits over your nose and mouth, or into your mouth alone.
Quick-Relief Medication for Asthma
Quick-relief medication, which includes short-acting beta-agonists and anticholinergics, is inhaled (with the devices describe above) to relieve flare-ups of asthma symptoms. Short-acting beta-agonists Medications such as albuterol, levalbuterol, and terbutaline are the first choice for quick relief of attacks. These drugs relax the smooth muscles around the airways and reduce swelling in the lining of the airways. Anticholinergics Medications such as tiotropium also relax the smooth muscles around the airways and reduce mucus production, but they work more slowly than short-acting beta-agonists.
Long-Term Control Medication for Asthma
Inhaled corticosteroids Corticosteroids are the standard treatment, and widely considered the most effective type of medicine to prevent attacks. They work by reducing the body’s inflammatory responses. Inhaled long-acting beta-agonists These drugs prevent the narrowing of the airways by relaxing the smooth muscles there; they should always be taken in combination with inhaled corticosteroids. Leukotriene modifiers Taken by mouth, these drugs block either the production or the effect of leukotrienes, chemicals that can lead to asthma attacks. Cromolyn sodium Cromolyn sodium is an inhaled nonsteroidal drug that prevents cells from releasing inflammation-causing chemicals. (This medication is rarely used now.) Methylxanthines Taken by mouth, these drugs help relax and open the airways.
Combination Single Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (SMART)
The guidelines were published in December in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and on the NHLBI website.
The combination medication has been found to be more effective for helping you avoid unexpected trips to the emergency room or your doctor’s office, and can also help you avoid larger corticosteroid doses — which with long-term use raise the risk of side effects such as osteoporosis, high blood pressure, cataracts, and glaucoma. Step one for everyone, however, is having a firm grasp of your asthma action plan. Work with your doctor to create an asthma action plan that covers how to:
Take your medication properlyAvoid asthma triggers unrelated to physical activity, such as allergens and airborne irritantsTrack your asthma controlRespond to worsening symptomsSeek emergency care when neededQuit smoking, if you do
In addition, monitor your symptoms carefully. Keep track of what they are, when they occur, and their severity.
In cold, dry airShortly after you get a cold or have an asthma attackDuring high pollen conditionsIn environments with airborne irritants, such as cigarette smoke
