Chronic bronchial asthma is a recurrent asthmatic disorder that is considered to be one of two sub-diseases of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, according to FamilyDoctor.org. The disorder is characterized by swelling and irritation in the bronchial tubes and an accumulation of mucus in the airways. Though there is no cure, there are a number of treatments that can assist with symptom management.
Lifestyle Modifications
According to the website Patient UK, a primary initial treatment for chronic bronchial asthma in adults is a lifestyle modification plan that includes smoking cessation. Boloji.com also notes that lifestyle modifications which include massage therapies and Ayurvedic herbal medicines have been shown to help some patients.
Bronchiodilator Inhalers
FamilyDoctor.org notes that the next treatment stage is medication for the breathing issues that come with chronic bronchial asthma.
Short-term bronchodilators fall into two categories: beta-agonist inhalers such as sabutamol and terbutaline, and antimuscarinic inhalers such as ipratropium. Both kinds of inhalers can provide relief of asthmatic symptoms within 5 to 15 minutes, and Patient UK notes that they provide relief for up to 6 hours.
Long-term bronchodilators are also available in both beta-agonist and antimuscarinic inhalers. Examples of beta-agonists include formoterol and salmeterol, while the only antimuscarinic treatment is tiotropium. Patient UK notes that relief lasts for up to 12 hours.
Steroid Inhalers
Patient UK notes that steroid inhalers are useful for those with more severe symptoms, as the steroids reduce inflammation levels. Examples of steroid inhalers include beclometasone, budesonide, ciclesonide, fluticason and mometasone.
Mucolytic Medications
Designed to break up mucus and prevent mucus formation, chronic bronchial asthma may also be treated with mucolytic medicines. These can include carbocisteine, erdosteine and mecysteine, all of which need to be taken two to three times daily to prevent flare-ups, notes Patient UK.
Oxygen
End-stage chronic bronchial asthma may be treated with oxygen. This does not help symptoms, but can help with blood oxygen levels and perceptions of breathlessness, and Patient UK reports that levels must be carefully monitored to avoid exacerbating symptoms.
