Asthma Medicine
Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition where the patient experiences a narrowing and inflammation of the airways. This leads to a decrease in the amount of oxygen that reaches the lungs which in turn leads to organs receiving insufficient oxygen. Though asthma is a condition that cannot be cured, there is medication that helps in controlling asthma.
There are basically two types of asthma medicine; the bronchodilators that help in stopping asthma attacks that have started and prevent further attacks. These bronchodilators relax the muscles of the air tubes which makes it easier for you to breathe. The second form of asthma medicine is anti-inflammatory which is medication that helps in controlling the inflammation in the airway, and helps in the prevention of asthma attacks.
It is the anti-inflammatory that work keeping your air tubes free all the time, and thus prevent an asthma attack from starting. They help in reducing the amount of swelling in the air tubes and thus, decrease the formation of mucus. The more famous types of anti-inflammatory are cromolyn and nedocromil.
Another form of anti-inflammatory is corticosteroids which are not the steroids used by athletes, but anabolic steroids. It is better to take corticosteroids in the spray form as its side effects are minimal this way. There is a higher possibility of side effects of these medications occurring when these medications are taken in pill or liquid form, for a long time. In such cases, it is necessary to have regular check ups with the doctor to ensure that the medicine is working as it should and is not causing side effects or complications.
Asthma medicine is sold under numerous brand names which are available in different forms too. The different forms of asthma medicine include pills, sprays, liquids, powders and shots. It is up to the doctor to choose on the best form of medicine for your case of asthma.
Like all medications, prolonged use of asthma medicine may lead to side effects that include a sore throat, rapid heartbeat, loss of appetite, nervousness, nausea and even loss of sleep. So if you suffer from any of these side effects, inform the doctor so that the doss can be changed or the asthma medicine changed.
The main reason asthma patients take asthma medicine is not as a cure for asthma, but so that they feel better and don’t think that asthma hampers them from doing what they intend to do. In other words, it is possible for an asthma patient to enjoy life better with asthma medicine.
There is another form of asthma medicine that is helpful if you suffer from asthma attacks that arise from allergies. This is called hyposensitization therapy or allergy shots which are helpful in preventing asthma attacks. However, not all doctors vouch for this asthma medicine as you can experience similar relief just by avoiding things that you are allergic to. Make it a point to avoid things that you are allergic to like dust, feathers or animal fur. With this you help in making the asthma medicine work better for you.