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                Understanding your treatment

There is no single treatment for every case of asthma. Different people may need different medicines. Your doctor will prescribe the right medicine, or combination of medicines, and show you how to use them properly. Asthma medicines can help you lead a normal and active life.

Asthma medication - two types

1. ‘Quick-relief’ medicines – Relievers
Relievers give instant relief, but only act for a maximum of 4-6 hours. Relievers help to relieve cough and breathing difficulties when an attack sets in. Whenever you feel breathless, take the medicine your doctor has given you for relief. This should immediately widen your airways and make breathing easier.

2. ‘Preventive’ medicines – Preventers
Preventers do not give immediate relief. However, when used over prolonged periods of time, they control asthma better and prevent further attacks.

Preventers help protect the airways. They make asthma attacks less likely. They will not help relieve an asthma attack. But regular use of your Preventer is the key to keep your asthma in check, thereby reducing the need for Reliever medicines.


Ways of taking asthma medicine

There are different ways of taking asthma medicines. Some are to be breathed in (inhaled). Others are to be swallowed (oral). And some others are to be injected.

1. Inhaled medicines are not more commonly used. These medicines are breathed directly into the lungs, where they are really needed. The devices used to deliver the medicine to the lungs are called inhalers. Inhalers also reduce the chance of side effects, as very little medicine is allowed to reach any other part of the body.

2. Oral medicines include tablets and syrups. Unlike inhaled medicine, oral medicines take longer to act, as they pass from the stomach to the bloodstream and finally to the lungs, where they are needed.



Different ways of administering asthma medicines.

                Inhalation Therapy - some facts

The most effective treatment
The method most practiced to keep asthma in check, around the world, is the use of modern, pocket-sized inhalers. As inhalers help the medicine reach your lungs directly, they work faster.

Contrary to popular belief, inhaled medicines are not the last resort for asthma patients. Even for the mildest cases, inhaled medicine is the first line of defense. The earlier you start your inhalation therapy, the better.

Both Reliever and Preventer medicines can be administered through inhalers.

The safest treatment
Inhalers give you quick relief, using the minimum amount of medicine. In fact, with inhalation therapy, you need only one-tenth, or even less, of the medication. With very little medicine reaching the other parts of your body, inhalation therapy is much safer.

The cost-effective treatment
Besides being more effective, inhalation therapy works out to be less expensive than using oral medication regularly.

In addition, with regular inhalation therapy, your chance of missing work or school is reduced, resulting in substantial savings.


                Signs that your asthma is getting worse
If you notice any of the signs listed below, consult your doctor. They suggest that your treatment may need to be adjusted.

• The wheezing and shortness of breath are more troublesome and frequent.
• You often wake up at night due to breathlessness of coughing.
• Even walking a short distance leads to difficulty in breathing.
• You need to take your Reliever medicine more frequently.
• You fail to respond to your usual medication.

Some things to remember in case of an attack

1. Stay calm. Do not panic.
2. Do not ignore the problem.
3. Take the medicine you have been prescribed for such a situation.
4. If the medicine does not have the desired effect, call your doctor.

                Answers to some common questions

Will asthma stop me from leading a normal life?
You can lead a normal and active life, even if your have asthma. All you have to do is follow your doctor’s instructions and take your medicines regularly.

1. There is cough, breathlessness or wheezing during routine activities, more than two or three times a week.
2. Your sleep is disturbed by cough or wheezing every week.
3. You need to use Reliever medicine daily, or even three to four times a week.

However, in this regard your doctor is the best judge.

Are preventive medicines for asthma sage to use regularly?
Yes. Preventive medicines, in the inhaled form, can be safely used for many years. In fact, it is important to use them without fail and as instructed by your doctor.

Doses my asthma medicines have any side effects?
Inhaled asthma medicine used in the correct way, as recommended by your doctors, usually has no serious side effects.

Are asthma medicines addictive?
No. Using asthma medicines regularly does not make you dependent on them. Never cut down or exceed the dose prescribed by your doctor. There is no way your doctor. There is no way you can get addicted to them.

Should I continue taking medicines even after my attacks stop?
Yes. You should continue to take your medicines as directed by your doctor. Just as some people need glasses to see clearly, asthma patients need continuous preventive treatment to breathe properly.

Can I exercise?
Yes, but if exercise makes you feel breathless, consult your doctor. He will prescribe appropriate medicines. Swimming and yoga seem to be helpful for people with asthma.

Do I need a special diet?
There is no definite answer to this question, because very little is known about the influence of diet on asthma. If you notice that eating a certain type of food brings on an attack, avoid it completely.

Is smoking harmful?
If you have asthma, it is extremely important that you don’t somke. Cigarette smoke makes your asthma worse by irritating your airways and causing them to narrow. It is just as important to avoid passive smoking, i.e. smoke from other people’s cigarettes.

How do I keep a watch on my asthma?
Quite simply, the way you feel is the best indicator of your condition. Also, maintaining a daily health record and following up regularly with your doctor will help you monitor your condition better. Sometimes, a doctor may prescribe a Peak flow Meter for you to monitor your asthma at home. You can ask your doctor about a Peak flow Meter.

Can asthma medicine be used during pregnancy and breast-feeding?
It is extremely important to control asthma during pregnancy, as uncontrolled asthma is a risk to the health of both the mother and the unborn child. Taking asthma medicine through inhalation during pregnancy and while breast-feeding does not pose a problem. However, you must consult your doctor.

Do I have to take special precautions while travelling?
Not really. You can travel by any mode of transport as long as your asthma is under control. However, always remember to carry your medicines with you.

Is asthma hereditary?
Though the tendency to have asthma runs in families, this does not mean that if you have asthma, your children will necessarily get it.