Asthma is a chronic lung disease which has affected around 20 million people in the country. The condition is characterized by inflammation of the airways leading to shortness of breath, chest tightness, cough, and difficulty in sleeping. The symptoms of asthma vary from person to person. Hence, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment procedure for asthma. Healthcare practitioners will advise you to follow a treatment plan which includes medicine and preventive care, depending on how your body reacts to each category of medicines.
You can keep your asthma under control if you are able to follow the treatment plan effectively. Here we discuss five common treatment options for asthma.
Medications for treating asthma
In order to find the right medicine for you, your doctor will consider your age, severity of the disease, symptoms, trigger points, and also how your body reacts to medicines.
Medicines are majorly divided into long-term asthma control medications and quick-relief medications. The long-term medications are taken on a daily basis which will likely prevent the onset of asthma. The long-term medications include:
Corticosteroids:
This category of medicine is available for oral use as well as in inhaler form. Inhaled corticosteroids have relatively low side-effects compared to oral corticosteroids. It reduces inflammation in the airways and thus gives you relief from the severity of the disease.
Leukotriene modifiers:
It is another category of asthma medicine that helps you get relief from symptoms of asthma for 24 hours. They are oral medicines which need to be taken daily.
Beta-agonists:
Long-acting beta-agonists are used to clear the airways and relieve the symptoms of asthma. The medicines in this category include salmeterol and formoterol.
Combination inhaler:
This category of medicines includes long-acting beta agonist as well as one type of corticosteroid.
Theophylline:
This medicine is not advised by physicians these days. It needs to be taken daily which will help to relax the muscles of the airways and thus gives relief from the symptoms of asthma.
If you have severe asthma attacks, your doctor will advise quick-relief medications for immediate relief from the symptoms. It is not advised to take these types of medications on a daily basis.
Quick-relief medications for asthma include the following.
Oral-steroids:
This is advised to people who have severe symptoms of asthma. It reduces the inflammation in the lungs, thus giving you immediate relief.
Bronchodilators:
This type of medicines will open the airways soon and you will feel better from the severe symptoms of asthma. You will also find bronchodilators for long-time relief from breathing difficulties.
Intravenous corticosteroids:
Similar to oral corticosteroids, intravenous corticosteroids also relieve airway inflammation quickly and give instant relief from symptoms of severe asthma. However, it is not advised to use it on a regular basis as it comes with a series of side effects.
Get medical help
You should consult with your healthcare practitioner to figure out the right treatment plan to cope with your symptoms of asthma.
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