Asthma is an extremely common condition that affects your lungs and ability to breathe. Asthma is characterized by intermittent “asthma attacks” where you have trouble breathing because your airways simultaneously swell and narrow, while producing excess mucous. Asthma is a chronic condition for which there is no cure.
However, although asthma cannot be cured, there are treatments that can help prevent attacks and manage unwanted symptoms. Using these treatments, you can live a full and normal life despite having asthma.
In many cases, an asthma attack occurs because of something that you inhaled. Therefore, by identifying what you are allergic to, you can avoid getting too close to it, which will result in fewer asthma attacks. Common allergens that cause asthma attacks include dirt, pollen, mould spores, pet dander, and much more.
Even if you know what causes your asthma attacks, there is still a good chance you will come into contact with it at some point. Therefore, you will still require treatment in the event that this happens. Currently, medications are the preferred and most recommended treatment to manage and prevent asthmatic attacks. Here are some of the best medications for treating asthma.
Inhaled corticosteroids are the most common treatment for asthma. Inhaled corticosteroids are typically self-administered with an inhaler during or before an asthma attack. Budesonide, ciclesonide, and mometasone are some of the most common inhaled corticosteroids. In addition to its effectiveness, inhaled corticosteroids are the preferred treatment for asthma because they have little to no side effects.
Leukotriene modifiers, such as Montelukast and Zileuton, are helpful at keeping the smooth muscles in your airways nice and smooth. This makes it harder for your airways to swell, which reduces your chances of having an asthma attack. Leukotriene modifiers can also help during an asthma attack. However, leukotriene modifiers are very potent and can cause psychological side effects, such as depression, hallucinations, irritation, and more.
In situations where an inhaled corticosteroid is not enough, you may need a combination inhaler that features a corticosteroid and a beta-agonist. Budesonide-formoterol and fluticasone-salmeterol are two of the most common combinations. The medications are given together in an inhaler and are good for short and long-term treatment of asthma.
Theophylline is a powerful bronchodilator that is extremely effective at treating and preventing asthma attacks. As with leukotriene modifiers, theophylline keeps the smooth muscles in your airways from swelling. However, because of how potent theophylline is, it can cause unwanted side effects such as nausea, vomiting, restlessness, stomach aches, headaches, and more. Therefore, it is not the preferred treatment for asthma.
Most asthma attacks stem from inhaling something you are allergic to. When your inhaler and other medications are not enough to stop the attack, you might require allergy medications. Allergy medications, usually given as a shot, can also cure the allergy that is causing the reaction. This can lead to fewer if any, asthma attacks.
In severe cases where your asthma is life-threatening or debilitating, surgery is also an option. Surgery for asthma, known as bronchial thermoplasty, is rarely used and quite dangerous. However, in a life-or-death situation, it might be your only option.
Bronchial thermoplasty is where your doctor uses an electrode to heat the inside of your lungs’ airways to reduce the smooth muscle in your bronchioles. This can keep them from constricting, which is what leads to an asthma attack. Because this procedure is very invasive and can potentially worsen your condition, it is rarely used.
In years past, asthma was extremely debilitating, and asthma attacks could be deadly. However, thanks to the wide variety of medications and treatments available for asthma, it is very manageable. It’s crucial, however, to seek a medical diagnosis if you think you or your child has asthma so that you can start treatment immediately.