According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, asthma, a chronic lung disease, currently affects 22 million Americans, six million of whom are children. Common symptoms associated with this disease include wheezing, coughing and tightness in the chest. These are due to the inflammation of the airways which prevent the sufferer from receiving the proper amount of air. Although no cure exists, a plethora of medications are available to help control and manage this condition.
Inhaled Corticosteroids
According to the medical experts at Mayo Clinic, these medications are the most effective for long-term control. They prevent your blood vessels from leaking fluid into your airways while reducing inflammation. Some of the most common inhaled corticosteroids include Flovent, Pulmicort and Azmacort.
Leukotriene Modifiers
Another type of inhaled asthma medication, leukotriene modifiers work by either reducing or completely blocking the immune system chemicals which cause asthma--leukotrienes. Although not a steroid, these are inhaled medications which are sometimes used in conjunction with inhaled cortico steroids to treat persistent asthma in older children and adults. Examples of leukotriene modifiers include Singulair and Accolate.
SABAs (short-acting-beta-2-agonists)
This is considered a quick-relief or fast-acting medication used when the symptoms of an asthma attack are present or an asthma attack is in progress. They are considered bronchodilators, and open the lungs by relaxing the muscles of the airways. According to the Mayo Clinic, these medications may be used alone if you suffer from infrequent attacks. However in cases of persistent asthma, bronchodilators are used in conjunction with long-term control medication such as inhaled corticosteroids. SABAs work within minutes and often last for four to six hours. These include Albuterol and Xoponex which are both frequently used in a nebulizer for children.
Oral Corticosteroids
These are effective for acute (sudden) asthma attacks, but are not recommended for long-term use due to the seriousness of the side effects. This group includes medications such as Prednisone and Hydrocortisone.
Immunotherapy
For some, asthma is triggered by allergies they cannot avoid. In these cases, immunotherapy is an option. After undergoing skin tests to determine which allergens trigger your asthma, you'll undergo a series of injections containing these allergens in small doses; this helps desensitize you to these allergens. The experts at Mayo Clinic state that you will typically receive one shot each week over a period of a few months, then proceed to one shot a month over a period of three to five years. By the end of your treatment, you should no longer be sensitive to the allergy, thus no longer suffering from asthma attacks.
