1. Understand How Quick-Relief Asthma Medications Help
When someone is having an asthma attack their airways constrict or close up. This makes it difficult to get air into the lungs. An asthma attack can be life threatening if symptoms persist and get worse. Quick-acting asthma medications are needed to treat acute symptoms. These medications are called bronchodilators because they help open up your lungs. Different quick relief medications are available with albuterol being one of the most common. It's important not to confuse maintenance asthma medications with quick-relief medications. Maintenance medication are used daily to prevent an attack. They won't help in an acute asthma attack.
2. Asthma Medications Come in Different Forms
Quick-relief asthma medications can be given via a metered dose inhaler, a nebulizer and some medications such as albuterol also come in a syrup. Speak with your doctor about which delivery form is best for you. Some people feel they get a better treatment with a nebulizer. However, a meter dose inhaler is small, portable and can be carried in a pocket or purse. Keep in mind medication in syrup form may be easier to administer to a young child than an inhaler.
3. Take It Early
Asthma symptoms may include shortness of breath, chest tightness and wheezing. It's important to take a quick-acting asthma medication early before symptoms get worse. Waiting to take medication can lead to worsening symptoms. When symptoms don't respond to medication and become severe it is referred to as status asthmaticus. This condition can be life threatening and lead to respiratory failure.
4. Use a Spacer
If you use a metered dose inhaler when taking a fast-acting asthma medication, consider using a spacer. It is a small device attached to the inhaler which helps make taking the medication easier. When a spacer is used, more medication gets into the lungs and less on the back of the throat. To use a spacer, place the inhaler in one end of the device and wrap your lips tightly around the mouthpiece. Press down on the inhaler, release the medication into the spacer and inhale slowly and deeply for a few seconds.
5. Be Aware of Side Effects
Quick-acting asthma medications may cause side effects in some people. The most common side effects to be aware of are an increase in heart rate and feeling shaky. Some people may also develop a headache and have nausea. There are different quick-acting asthma medications. If the one you are taking causes side effects, speak to your doctor about switching to another.
