The asthma treatment your doctor prescribes will be based mainly on the frequency and intensity of your attacks, your age, medical history, physical condition and any possible adverse reactions you may have to a drug. There are two basic types of asthma treatment:
- Anti-inflammatories to suppress the swelling of the airways.
- Bronchodilators to relax the muscles around the airways.
If your asthma is mild or intermittent you will probably be prescribed a 'rescue' or 'reliever' medication that will be a short-acting bronchodilator. These are effective within five minutes and can provide relief from symptoms for up to four hours.
For more severe asthma you will probably be prescribed a long-acting bronchodilator and an anti-inflammatory treatment to be taken daily. The bronchodilator can provide relief for up to 12 hours. A 'rescue' medication would also be prescribed for attacks.
These medications are usually provided through inhalers so the medication gets straight to your lungs without being absorbed into the blood first.
If you are relying solely on over-the-counter medications it is time to visit a health professional. These medications do not prevent attacks, they usually give no more than 30 minutes relief and they are not designed for long-term use. You could be risking long-term damage to your lungs if you do not use an alternative.
Almost 40% of Americans have tried some form of complementary asthma treatment. Many doctors consider these to be outside the mainstream of accepted or usual treatments and often point out that there is no conclusive scientific evidence that they really work. Yet many patients claim that complementary therapies help them feel better.
These mixed messages mean it is essential for asthmatics to educate themselves as well as they can.
If you are considering an alternative asthma treatment to mainstream medication here are several points to bear in mind:
- Be wary of expensive, unproven asthma treatment therapies that are promoted as miracle cures.
- 'Natural' does not mean 'safe'. It is possible to be allergic to some of the substances used in natural remedies.
- An alternative therapy may interact with your current medication. Consider the possibility of adverse reactions.
Consult a health professional first to ensure the therapy is truly complementary to your current medication. Stopping the use of medication suddenly can lead to severe symptoms.
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