ASTHMA - Treatment

In people suffering from asthma, the episodes or attacks of asthma keep happening now and then. It manifests in different people with different symptoms, at different times and as a reason of different trigger factors. Different types of medications are used in the treatment of asthma. The treatment of asthma and management of asthma is based on the severity of the attack and the condition of the patient. The treatment with medications is aimed at providing relief from the symptoms associated with asthma or preventing the development of such symptoms. Broadly two types of medications are used for the treatment of asthma.

• Medications used for providing Quick Relief, these asthma medications are used to provide an immediate relief from an acute attack of asthma; they are aimed at bringing down the symptoms of an acute attack. They help to relieve the patient of the cough and breathing difficulties and widening of the airways. These asthma medications are also called as “Relievers”.
• Medications used for Prevention, these medications do not provide any immediate relief, but they are advised to be taken for a longer duration of time on a regular basis to bring down the incidences of an attack or episodes of asthma. They help in protecting the airways from the effects of trigger factors. These medications are also called as “Preventers”.

Asthma Medications – Different ways of administrations
Based on the severity of the asthma attack and the action desired to bring down the symptoms of an asthma attack, different forms of medications are prescribed by the medical professional for an asthmatic patient.

• Oral Medications, these are administered orally, like tablets, capsules or syrups. Cough syrups are prescribed to get relief from the symptom of cough. They are basically used for providing quick relief and for preventive measure also. Oral drugs are slower in action, as they need to get absorbed from the stomach to the blood stream and then to the lungs where the action is required.
• Injections, they are faster in action and they used to provide immediate relief from an acute asthma attack.
• Inhalation therapy, this is the most safest, easier and cost effective of all asthma treatment. It is also a therapy with least side effects. The medication is directly inhaled to the airways and lungs, where the action is most required. This is used for both providing quick relief and for long term prevention of attacks.