| Learn about asthma and its symptoms |
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Treating asthma is a two-pronged process. Most often, if you are diagnosed with asthma, you will be prescribed a reliever and a preventer, both of which come in inhaler form, colour-coded to tell them apart. If these two don’t manage to control your asthma completely, then you may need additional medicine to do this.
Inhalers are called puffers or huffers. These are usually purse-sized so you can take them with you through your day. They deliver a small measured dose of the appropriate medication directly to the lungs and respiratory tract. Nebulisers are usually larger and are used to give higher dosages, often in emergencies.
If you have mild asthma (i.e. experiencing symptoms less than once a day) then the reliever is probably the only prescription you will need. A reliever is usually colour-coded blue or grey and usually contains what are known as a bronchioldilators or beta-2 agonists, with salbutamol and terbutaline being the most common active substances in these. These do not address the phlegm or irritation, but the substance released by the puffer and inhaled works to relax the muscles around the airways, allowing them to open up. They have an instant effect, but this effect does not last more than a few hours.
If you have noticed that exercise tends to bring on your asthma symptoms (particularly in cold weather), then it may be best to take a “puff” before beginning exercise.
Those who have to use their reliever three times a week or more will probably also need to use a preventer. These act on the inflammation and prevent the characteristic symptoms such as wheezing and shortness of breath occurring. These need to be taken daily (often twice a day) whether you experience the symptoms or not. If you are using them correctly, you will not experience any symptoms, so do not become blasé and omit a dose.
Preventers are usually colour-coded with a warm shade such as orange, brown or red, although some brands are coded white/cream. These preventatives contain corticosteroids such as beclometasone, budesonide, fluticasone and mometasone.
If the two regular inhalers do not seem to be controlling your asthma, then you may be prescribed an additional inhaler that delivers a longer-acting form of beta-2 agonist. Unlike the beta-2 agonists in the reliever inhalers, these last up to 12 hours and have a slower onset (up to half an hour after dosing as opposed to instantly). These should be used alongside your regular preventer and reliever inhalers, not as substitutes.
Other additional medications used to treat asthma if you need to “up the ante” in controlling the condition include leukotirene antagonist tablets and/or theophylline tablets. These work slowly and help prevent the symptoms of asthma occurring.
Steroid tablets may also be prescribed as a short-term measure after a severe asthma attack. While these are excellent in reducing inflammation and improving your lung function, you must be very careful in keeping all your prescriptions, containers, etc. if you participate in competitive sports to avoid legal problems.
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