How Is Asthma Treated?

What Is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic condition caused by swelling of the bronchial tubes in your lungs. Your lungs also begin to produce excess mucus, and the muscles around the bronchial walls begin to tighten. This all makes it difficult to breathe. During an acute attack, you may experience wheezing, which you need to address quickly to avoid a life-threatening asthma attack.

If your asthma is persistent--that is, it's a daily occurrence--your asthma is treated with a both long-term medicines that keep your asthma under control as well as an inhaler for quick bursts of medicine. Some asthma sufferers, however, require only an inhaler for occasional use. And others whose asthma is triggered by allergies require additional medication to keep their allergic response under control. The combination of medicines that work best depend on the individual, and you may find that you and your doctor try different prescriptions and combinations based on your individual asthma needs, notes the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute.

Long-Term Medications

Long-term medicines that help control asthma, as noted by the Mayo Clinic, include an inhaled form of corticosteroids, which treats airway inflammation and has fewer long-term side effects than oral corticosteroids; long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABAs), which help keep the airways open and reduce inflammation; leukotriene modifiers, which help keep airways open, reduce inflammation and minimize mucus; Cromolyn and nedocromil, which must be taken three to four times a day and reduce asthma symptoms; and Theophylline, which relaxes the muscles around the airways.

Quick Relief Medications

Inhalers provide quick relief (they are sometimes called "rescue inhalers"). There are three types, as noted by the Mayo Clinic. They include short-acting beta-2 agonists that ease breathing within minutes by helping the airways relax temporarily. Ipratropium is an inhaled anticholinergic that relieves symptoms immediately. It is most often used for those struggling with chronic bronchitis or emphysema. Last, for very short-term use, and only for acute attacks, oral or intravenous corticosteriods are available to relieve inflammation of the airways. They have significant side effects and so are used in only acute, emergency attacks.

Allergy Treatments

Because asthma is often triggered by allergic reaction, your doctor may prescribe an allergy treatment to better manage your condition. Immunotherapy and anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies are common. With immunotherapy, you receive shots to minimize your body's allergic response, with the goal of becoming immune to the allergic response. Anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies are injected every two to four weeks and minimize allergic response.