For people with allergic asthma, allergy shots sometimes can help.
This article will provide an overview of the various types of asthma treatments.
Whats in an Asthma Action Plan?
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Asthma action plansare generally divided into three zones: green, yellow, and red.
The two most common types of asthma medications are controller medicines and quick-relief medicines.
What you use and when depends on several factors, including how severe your asthma is.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Controller Medications
Asthma controller medicinesare a variety of long-term asthma control medications.
Some are used alone, while some are combined with other drugs.
Inhaled Corticosteroids
Inhaledcorticosteroids(ICSs) are a mainstay of asthma treatment.
They work by reducing many forms of airway inflammation.
They are preferred when inhaled steroids do not adequately control symptoms.
They should not be used for an acute asthma attack as they can mask a worsening of your asthma.
LABAs include:
Leukotriene Modifiers
Leukotriene modifiers are an alternative treatment for patients with mild persistent asthma.
One use is in controlling exercise-induced asthma.
They are not used for short-term relief during a sudden asthma attack.
Add-on Controller Medications
Cromolyn sodium may be used as anadd-on controller medicineand alternative treatment option for treating asthma.
Spiriva (tiotropium) is an example of a LAMA that may be used in asthma treatment.
They are shots or infusions given every few weeks.
One such drug isXolair (omalizumab).
You take them at the first sign of symptoms.
Most often these medications are taken with an inhaler.
Inhalers allow the drug to go directly to the lungs without affecting other systems in the body.
They can be prescribed to be used alone or in conjunction with long-term, controller medications.
Quick-relief medications should only be used on an as-needed basis.
Short-Acting Beta-Agonists
Short-acting beta-agonists(SABAs) are the drug of choice for acute relief ofasthma symptoms.
They can also be used to preventexercise-induced asthma.
An example of an anticholinergic is Atrovent (ipratropium).
Oral steroids are used only as a controller medication after multiple other medications fail.
They can have significant side effects.
Primatene MIST HFA
Primatene MIST HFA is anepinephrinemetered-dose inhaler (MDI).
It is the only MDI product approved for OTC use by the FDA.
Only prescription beta-agonist medicines can help control inflammation.
Primatene Mist should only be used for mild symptoms of intermittent asthma.
It is not for people with moderate or severe asthma.
Unlike Primatene MIST HFA, Asthmanefrin is not FDA-approved to treat asthma.
But this OTC asthma inhaler isn’t for everyone.
Allergy Shots
Allergy shots, also known as immunotherapy, can benefit people with allergic asthma triggers.
The shots are formulated by an allergy specialist to match your specific allergen triggers.
You get the shots regularlyevery week at first, then once a month for several years.
Over time, you react less to those allergen triggers.
It is available for people with severe persistent asthma that is not well controlled withinhaled corticosteroidsandlong-acting beta-agonists.
In a BT procedure, a special catheter is inserted into the medium-sized airways of the lung duringbronchoscopy.
Heat energy is released to reduce the amount of smooth muscle in those airways.
The procedure is repeated on three or more days, each day treating a different area of the lung.
Studies have found the benefits of BT rarely outweigh the risk of short- and long-term side effects, however.
For this reason, the NIH does not recommend the treatment for people over 18.
They report that there are no complementary health approaches that have good evidence that they can relieve asthma.
Breathing exercises are aimed at reducing hyperventilation and regulating breathing.
An example isButeyko breathing.
The exercises focus on decreasing both the volume and the number of breaths you take per minute.
Some studies toward benefits of these breathing exercises.
However, conclusions can’t be made because the studies used different methods.
Lifestyle changes, such as avoiding triggers, and using controller medications can reduce symptoms.
Asthma attacks can be treated with rescue medications.
It’s no doubt that having asthma makes life more difficult.
But with good asthma treatment, most people can do almost anything they want day-to-day.
you oughta educate yourself about your asthma treatment and begin developing your treatment team.
People withsevere asthmahave symptoms that are not adequately controlled by standard asthma medications.
Their symptoms are also likely to interfere with physical or daily activities.
Biologics are a newer class of drugs that are generally reserved for people with severe asthma.
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