Allergy Asthma » Asthma Medication http://understandingasthma.com Allergy Asthma Daily Bulletin Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:47:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Allergy and Allergic Asthma Treatment http://understandingasthma.com/allergic-asthma-treatment/ http://understandingasthma.com/allergic-asthma-treatment/#comments Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:51:59 +0000 admin http://understandingasthma.com/?p=69 Allergic asthma is a particular type of asthma and it is similar to allergy, but with a wider array of symptoms. Although the manifestations are similar to those in common asthma, the difference is in the circumstances that trigger these symptoms. Asthma is defined as a condition that narrows or constricts the air passages, resulting in wheezing, coughing, short breath and reduced air flow in the lungs. What causes the constriction of the air passages makes the difference between allergic asthma and the other type of this condition.
While the short-term allergic asthma treatment can be the same as in general, with bronchodilators and corticosteroids, or even alternative medicine choices such as Siddha home remedies for asthma, we should not forget where the symptoms started and treat also the allergy induced asthma with appropriate medication such as antihistaminics and anti-inflammatory drugs. The best way to treat it is to prevent getting in contact with the substances you’ve tested positive at the allergy tests. Don’t dust the house if you are allergic to dust. Don’t keep pets inside your home, if you are allergic to pets. Forget those foods you develop allergic reactions to. It is more important to be able to breathe freely than eating strawberries, peanuts or crayfish.
Under no circumstances should you attempt to treat yourself with medication you saw other people taking. What is their honey can be your poison. Go to the doctor, get a proper diagnose of your disease, then follow the prescription you’re going to get. Allergic asthma is no children’s play, so likewise simple allergy, is should be kept under control with appropriate treatment.

]]> http://understandingasthma.com/allergic-asthma-treatment/feed/ 0 Asthma Medication http://understandingasthma.com/asthma-medication/ http://understandingasthma.com/asthma-medication/#comments Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:38:38 +0000 admin http://understandingasthma.com/?p=33 There is a popular belief which is wrong, that says that “asthma is all in the mind”, thus making asthma medication not necessary. This is not true. Fact is that asthma can be triggered by emotions such as anger, anxiety, fear or joy, but the cause is real, and it consists of a narrowing of the air passages caused by the swelling and inflammation of the airways walls.

Types of Asthma Medication

Asthma medication can be of three types: long-term asthma control medication, quick relief medication and allergic asthma medication. The first asthma medication group contains inhaled corticosteroides, long acting beta 2 agonists, leukotriene modifiers and theophylline. The quick relief medication comprises short acting beta 2 agonists, ipratropium and oral and intravenous corticosteroids. The third group includes antihistamines, nasal decongestants and immunotherapy vaccines.
Inhaled corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory drugs which are very effective in the log term control of asthma. They help decreasing the inflammation of the airways walls, block allergic response of the immune system and prevent leaks of fluid from the blood vessels into the tissue of the air passages. Several examples of such asthma medication are: mometasone, fluticasone, triamcinolone, beclomethasone. Usually, they are administered via a metered dose inhaler, provided with a spacer. The spacer is very useful for preventing the drug entering the digestive system, because it is supposed to go only in the lungs, not in the stomach or throat, where it may cause severe irritation.
LABAs (long acting beta 2 agonists) are bronchodilators. As their name shows, their effect is the dilatation of the constricted airways, thus allowing the patient to breathe much better. Such asthma medication is used in conjunction with other classes of drugs. Using such medical devices is not that simple. There are even asthma training centers where patients learn how to use inhalers in the correct way.
Leukotriene modifiers like Singulair (Montelukast) and Accolate (Zafirlukast) have the role of blocking the leucotrienes, which are those immune system chemicals responsible for asthma symptoms.
The other classes of asthma medication will be described in a future article.

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