Tips for Managing Asthma

[dustin tate]

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects your airways. Asthma is
defined simply as reversible airway obstruction. Asthma is
characterised by attacks of breathlessness, tight chest, wheezing and
coughing which are caused by the airways becoming narrowed and
inflamed. Some people may have these symptoms all of the time and
others may be normal between attacks. The inflammation makes the
airways very sensitive, and they tend to react strongly to things that
you are allergic to or find irritating. When the airways react, they
get narrower, and less air flows through to your lung tissue. Signs of
an asthmatic episode include wheezing, rapid breathing (tachypnea),
prolonged expiration, a rapid heart rate (tachycardia), rhonchous lung
sounds (audible through a stethoscope), and over-inflation of the
chest. Asthma attacks are not all the same'some are worse than others.
In a severe asthma attack, the airways can close so much that not
enough oxygen gets to vital organs. This condition is a medical
emergency. People can die from severe asthma attacks.
Asthma attacks can be caused by many things like exercise, cold air,
allergies, and breathing in certain chemicals. A person having an
asthma attack should use an inhaler or go and see a doctor for a
prescription. Asthma is treated with two kinds of medicines: quick-
relief medicines to stop asthma symptoms and long-term control
medicines to prevent symptoms. Desensitization to allergens has been
shown to be a treatment option for certain patients. Short-acting,
selective beta2-adrenoceptor agonists, such as salbutamol (albuterol
USAN), levalbuterol, terbutaline and bitolterol. Current treatment
protocols recommend prevention medications such as an inhaled
corticosteroid, which helps to suppress inflammation and reduces the
swelling of the lining of the airways. Tremors, the major side effect,
have been greatly reduced by inhaled delivery, which allows the drug
to target the lungs specifically; oral and injected medications are
delivered throughout the body. Currently available long-acting beta2-
adrenoceptor agonists include salmeterol, formoterol, bambuterol, and
sustained-release oral albuterol.
Corticosteroids help decrease the frequency of your attacks and reduce
the need for other medications you may use to control your symptoms.
Nebulizers may be helpful to some patients experiencing a severe
attack. Salbutamol and terbutaline inhalers are the most common
relieving inhalers. Heliox, a mixture of helium and oxygen, may be
used in a hospital setting. Guaifenesin, an expectorant available over
the counter, may have a small effect in managing thickened bronchial
mucus. Anti-Inflammatory medications for asthma are the most important
treatment for asthma control; they help prevent swelling and decrease
secretions within the airways in people with asthma. Some asthma
medications are used for quick relief of asthma symptoms, others to
control this chronic condition. Long-acting beta-2 agonists, such as
salmeterol (Serevent Diskus) and formoterol (Foradil), last at least
12 hours. These corticosteroids ' including prednisone,
methylprednisolone, hydrocortisone and others ' may be taken to treat
acute asthma attacks or very severe asthma.
Asthma Treatment Tips
1.Leukotriene modifiers (montelukast, zafirlukast, and zileuton),
which are used either alone to treat mild persistent asthma.
2. Cromolyn and nedocromil, which are used to treat mild persistent
asthma.
3. Theophylline, which is used either alone to treat mild persistent
asthma or together with inhaled corticosteroids to treat moderate
persistent asthma.
4. Long-term use of corticosteroids can have many side effects
including a redistribution of fat, increased appetite, blood glucose
problems and weight gain.
5. Deposition of steroids in the mouth may cause a hoarse voice or
oral thrush (due to decreased immunity).
6. Leukotriene modifiers (montelukast, zafirlukast, pranlukast, and
zileuton).
7. Mast cell stabilizers (cromoglicate (cromolyn), and nedocromil).
8. Antimuscarinics/anticholinergics (ipratropium, oxitropium, and
tiotropium), which have a mixed reliever and preventer effect.
9. Methylxanthines (theophylline and aminophylline), which are
sometimes considered if sufficient control cannot be achieved with
inhaled glucocorticoids and long-acting ?-agonists alone.
10. Antihistamines, often used to treat allergic symptoms that may
underlie the chronic inflammation.
11. Methotrexate is occasionally used in some difficult-to-treat
patients.
12. Guaifenesin, an expectorant available over the counter, may have a
small effect in managing thickened bronchial mucus.