Asthma is a disease of the lungs in which the airways become blocked or narrowed causing breathing difficulty, and sometimes respiratory arrest in severe cases. This chronic disease affects nearly 20 million Americans.
Asthma medications may be either inhaled or in pill form and are divided into two types—quick-relief and long-term control. Quick-relief medicines are used to control the immediate symptoms of an asthma episode. In contrast, long-term control medicines do not provide relief right away, but rather help to lessen the frequency and severity of episodes over time. The National Association has stated that if you have symptoms more than twice a week, you will probably need medications for long term control. You will also need to take these medications for the rest of your life, as asthma is a chronic illness.
The two classes of medication for short term relief are:
1) Short-acting brochodilators (inhaled). They open airways by relaxing muscles that tighten in and around the airways during asthma episodes.
2) Short-acting beta agonists (inhaled) relieve asthma symptoms quickly and some prevent asthma caused by exercise.
If you use either of these medications more than three times in one day, or either medicine every day; your asthma may be getting worse, and you should contact your physician. However, as more than 50% of patients who use inhalers, use them incorrectly; one also needs to ask if their technique can be observed, so corrections can be made.
The five classes of long acting asthma medications are:
1) Anti-inflammatory: These include cromolyn which prevents the bronchioles or lungs from becoming inflammed, and thereby swollen; and, steroids such as cortisones, which may be given in pill form for a very short period during severe reactions. The anti-inflammatory drugs are the drug of choice, and even if other classes of drugs are given, these are not replacements for the anti-inflammatories, but are an addition.
2) Beta-agonists: These are inhaled, and maintain the patency of the airway tubes. May be used for nighttime asthma.
3) Anti-IgE Injections are new on the market. They work by suppressing the Immune Response to an allergen. Due to the expense of this drug, it is used only for those cases that are severe and not responding to other treatments.
4) Leukotrines: These medications are also new on the market, and work by suppressing the congestion that occurs during the delayed phase of an allergic asthma attack.
5) Theophylline: This drug has been on the market for a long time; however, it is associated with toxic levels, and must be closely monitored.
As with all chronic diseases, the effectiveness of treatment is determined by the patient's knowlege of the disease and treatment methods, compliance with the treatment plan, and an on-going dialog with the prescribing physician on symptom management.
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