Asthma is a chronic lung condition characterized by inflammation of the bronchial tubes (airways) in the lungs, and it has no known treatment.
However, a variety of asthma therapies may be used to both avoid symptoms and treat them when they do appear.
Asthma may get more severe as you age, and episodes may become more frequent and severe if untreated.
The following are the objectives of asthma treatment:
- Improve symptoms as soon as they appear.
- Eliminate signs and attacks
- Increase your amount of exercise and sleep
Your age, the kind of asthma you have, its severity, and how your body reacts to different treatments will likely all affect the course of therapy your doctor recommends for you. It may be necessary to try a variety of treatments before settling on one that effectively manages your asthma symptoms, and what works best for you may vary over time.
Inhalers for Asthma Treatment in Getting Medicine into the Airways
Between the 1950s and the 1980s, asthmatic patients began using modern inhaler devices. Inhalers are now thought of as the standard asthma treatment.
Inhalers Come in Two Main Types
Inhalers may administer medications to the airways to treat asthma symptoms, assist in avoiding asthma episodes, or both. Inhaler devices come in two primary categories:
MDI (metered-dose inhaler)
This kind of inhaler is the most popular one. It features a mouthpiece in the form of a boot used to enter a pressurized canister holding medication. Since 1956, this design has been in use.
By placing the mouthpiece into your mouth and pressing down on the canister while breathing, you administer a controlled amount of the medication to your lungs.
A counter on your MDI may indicate how many doses are left in the canister.
It could be challenging to time the release of medication from your inhaler with the inhalation. But this step is crucial to ensure that the drug reaches your lungs, which is the primary objective of inhaled treatment.
You may attach a holding chamber known as a spacer to your MDI to lessen the likelihood that the medication will remain in your mouth.
Spacers enable you to inhale slowly, deeply, and at your rate so that the whole amount of medication enters your lungs.
Certain MDIs—known as breath-actuated inhalers—automatically blow out the medication when you inhale.
Whatever kind of inhaler your doctor prescribes, ensure you understand how to use it and confirm that you are using it correctly (see below for additional information on using an inhaler). Ask your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare practitioner if you have any questions regarding the use or if any of the instructions need to be clarified.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) phased out all CFC-based albuterol inhalers in 2008 due to the environmental harm CFCs caused, even though MDIs initially utilized CFCs as fuel. The FDA-approved propellant hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) is currently used in MDIs.
Inhaler for dry powder
This apparatus doesn’t inject drugs into your lungs using a chemical propellant. Instead, it includes a powdered substance that you breathe deeply and quickly into your lungs to absorb.
Anyone who has trouble using an inhaler should try a nebulizer instead.
Even while a nebulizer isn’t technically an inhaler, it’s still a good alternative if you have severe asthma and can’t use a standard inhaler.
Using a mouthpiece, a mask that covers your nose and mouth, or just your mouth, you may breathe in a tiny mist of liquid medication created by a nebulizer.
Nebulizers are more time-consuming to set up and operate than inhalers, but they allow you to take your medication while breathing normally.
How to Use an Inhaler
To ensure that the medication enters your lungs as intended, proper technique is crucial while using an inhaler.
Use your inhaler as directed by your doctor, either in your mouth, 1 to 2 inches away from it, or with a spacer attachment.
Follow these instructions to use an inhaler correctly:
- Examine the mouthpiece for debris or clogs after removing the cover.
- For several seconds, give the inhaler a good shake.
- Inhale deeply, then let out all of your air entirely.
- Put the inhaler in place and push the button while upright and starting to breathe in gently. After trying it, keep inhaling.
- Take five to ten seconds to hold your breath, and then gently exhale through your mouth.
Although a minor aftertaste is expected, a strong chemical taste shouldn’t be present if the medication is correctly inhaled.
Medication for Asthma Treatment Control May Include Both Long-Term and Temporary Drugs
Drugs for immediate relief and long-term management are the two broad categories under which asthma medications belong.
Quick-Relief Asthma Treatment Medicine
When asthma symptoms worsen, quick-relief drugs such as short-acting beta-agonists and anticholinergics are breathed (using the abovementioned devices).
Immediately Available Beta-Agonists
For rapid attack alleviation, drugs like levalbuterol (Xopenex) and albuterol are the first line of defense. These medications lessen edema in the airway lining and loosen the smooth muscles around the airways.
Anticholinergics
Similar to short-acting beta-agonists, medications like ipratropium (Atrovent) also quickly relax the smooth muscles surrounding the airways.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids, which lessen inflammation, are required in specific circumstances, often for severe asthma. These medications may be administered intravenously at a hospital or orally at home.
Long-Term Asthma Treatment Control Medicine
By lowering the inflammation that makes your airways more vulnerable to asthma triggers, long-term control medications aid in preventing asthma symptoms. These medications are often recommend for everyday use.
There are several medications available for long-term management, including:
Inhaled corticosteroids
The mainstay of care and usually regarded as the best medication to stop attacks is corticosteroids. They function by lessening inflammatory reactions in the body.
Inhaled long-acting Beta-Agonists
These medications ease the smooth muscles of the airways, preventing the constriction of the airways; they must always be used with inhale corticosteroids.
Biologics
These medications are create using cells remove from live things, including mice or microbes. Then, they are design to specifically target bodily molecules that cause inflammation or other immune system components that cause asthma symptoms. To stop your body from responding to allergic triggers, you must inject yourself with medications and administer them every two to four weeks. They are dupilumab, mepolizumab, resulizumab, omalizumab (Xolair), and benralizumab (Fasenra Pen). Most often, they are recommend in situations of severe asthma.
Modifiers of leukotriene
When taken orally, these medications prevent leukotrienes, which may trigger asthma episodes and increase lung inflammation, either from being produce or having an impact.
Methylxanthines
These medications aid in relaxation and airway opening when taken orally.
OTC Corticosteroids
These medications, which may be taken as pills or liquids, are use when other medicines are insufficient to prevent asthma attacks. In certain situations of severe asthma, they are also use in treatment.
Single Maintenance and Reliever Therapy in Combination (SMART)
According to update asthma treatment recommendations publish in December 2020 by the National Institutes of Health’s Na, if you have moderate to severe persistent asthma treatment that is not well control with your current medication, using a single inhaler with a specific medication combination — a corticosteroid plus the long-acting beta-agonist formoterol — may be more effective.
With long-term use, larger corticosteroid doses increase the risk of side effects like osteoporosis, high blood pressure, cataracts, and glaucoma. The combination drug is more effective at helping you avoid unforeseen trips to the emergency room or your doctor’s office.
The First Step: Know Your Asthma Treatment Action Plan
Most asthma sufferers manage their chronic illness using a multifaceted strategy adapted to their symptoms and way of life.
But for everyone, the first step is to be fully aware of your asthma action plan.
Create an asthma action plan with your doctor that details how to:
- Take your medications as directed.
- Avoid asthma triggers unrelated to exercise, such as allergens and airborne irritants.
- Monitor your asthma management.
- Attend to deteriorating symptoms
- Whenever necessary, seek emergency treatment
- If you smoke, stop.
Keep a close eye on your symptoms as well. Please record what they are, when they happen, and how serious they are.
A peak flow meter is an affordable hand-held tool that might assist you in keeping an eye on your health. It assesses how rapidly you can exhale air, showing how effectively your lungs work.
Maintaining a healthy diet and weight is crucial since obesity may worsen asthma symptoms. A 2012 research found that weight reduction in obese individuals is link to a 48 to 100% likelihood of asthma remission.
Precautions may also aid in preventing asthma symptoms brought on by exercise. Avoid these specific exercises:
- In the icy, dry air
- After you have an asthma attack or a cold
- When the pollen count is high
- Whenever there are airborne irritants present, like cigarette smoke
Usually, a Combination Approach Is Necessary for Treating Severe Asthma
People with severe asthma may be help using the same treatments or medications to manage lesser forms of the disease. In many of these situations, the patient has to take these medications more often.
However, for some persons with severe asthma, conventional medications are ineffective.
These individuals may need a combination of some of the medications mentioned above, including long-acting beta-agonists, biologics, inhaled corticosteroids, and long-acting muscarinic antagonists.