The Various Forms of Asthma Medication

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic and non-curable disease which affects the respiratory system in the human body, and which has certain triggers such as that of environmental triggers, which are able to heighten the ability for and trigger that of an asthma attack. Although asthma is a recurring disease with no form of curability at the present time, there are different forms of asthma medication that are prescribed to asthmatics, especially those with a particularly severe case, and an asthma medication is extremely helpful because it can help an asthmatic not only to keep their asthma under control but also to help them prevent the onset of attacks.

What are the Various Forms of Asthma Medication That are Available Today?

The most common type of asthma medication is that of an inhaler. There are two different basic types of inhalers: a metered-dose inhaler and a dry powder inhaler. The metered-dose inhalers work by using a chemical propellant to push out the medication from the inhaler, and this medication can either be released by squeezing the canister or by that of direct inhalation. With dry powder inhalers on the other hand, the medication is released by your inhaling more rapidly than you would with that of a metered-dose inhaler.

There are also several different forms of asthma medication that are released from inhalers, of which asthma medication is released will obviously depend on your own personal circumstances and the severity of your asthma. Some of the most common forms are: short-acting bronchodilators, which are medications such as albuterol, and pirbuterol, and which are used to provide immediate relief of asthma symptoms; and long-acting bronchodilators, which are used to relieve that of asthma symptoms for longer periods of time.

There are also three other incredibly common forms of medication, which are: corticosteroids, which are used long term in order to prevent asthma attacks, and which includes such medications as beclomethasone dipropionate, fluticasone, budesonide, and flunisolide; cormolyn or nedocromil, which are nonsteroidal medications which are typically used long term in order to prevent inflammation of the airways; and corticosteroid plus long-acting bronchodilator, which is a medication which combines that of a corticosteroid and a long-acting bronchodilator.

The only way you can be sure of which type of medication is best for your asthma is by consulting your physician. It will usually be a quite simple task for them to determine which type of medication is most proper for you, with the results depending primarily on how severe your asthma is on a regular basis.

Asthma Remedy: Inhalers May Save Your Life

People who suffer from asthma know very well what can happen if they have an asthma attack. Their airways seal up and they are no longer able to breathe. Having an asthma attack is very scary for the sufferer as well as those that witness the attack. Having an asthma attack leaves everyone involved feeling small and helpless. However, many people who suffer from asthma never have an attack, or at least not a serious one, because they carry their inhalers with them everywhere they go. An asthma inhaler is a great asthma remedy that can help prevent serious attacks that can seriously harm, or kill, the person having them.

To get this asthma remedy, you’ll want to visit your doctor. Your doctor will test you to determine if you do, in fact, have asthma. Asthma can be caused by many things, allergies for example, and your doctor will give you a series of tests to determine what your individual cause is. After that, your doctor will determine which medicine you will benefit from the most. This medicine will then be put into an inhaler.

For this asthma remedy to work, you must carry your inhaler with you everywhere you go. You never know when you’ll have an asthma attack. If you have an attack and you don’t have your inhaler with you, your airways can close up and you’ll be unable to breathe. It’s similar to being underwater, being unable to breathe to the point that you panic and, thus, run out of oxygen very quickly. You must carry your inhaler with you to prevent this from happening.

Always Keep It With You

Your asthma remedy inhaler should be kept with you at all times. That means that when you leave the house in the morning, you have to make sure it’s with the other items you never leave home without, such as your cell phone and wallet or purse. By keeping the asthma remedy inhaler with you, the moment you feel an attack coming on, you can breathe in the medicine and, thus, get rid of the attack before it becomes a real problem.

This asthma remedy is only one of many, but it is the most common. It just takes some getting used to, never leaving the house without it. Once you get used to it, you won’t even need to think about it. Every time you leave the house, you’ll check to see if you have your inhaler with you.

Is my Asthma Drug a First or a Last Resort?

In this short article we will look at the growing use of asthma medications, specifically the drugs that are commonly prescribed and hence prevalent in the marketplace. In addition, the viability of alternative or natural based asthma drugs, also referred to as bio-ceuticals or nutri-ceuticals, will be considered.
Webster’s Dictionary defines pharmaceutical as a “medicinal drug”. In the United States the legal status of such drugs is left to the FDA to determine. Then the doctors who prescribe them and pharmacists who issue them play their part and finally the private citizens who take the asthma drugs have to determine the ultimate efficacy.
Most asthma patients are not doctors or scientists. They are struggling consumers who try to do the right thing. In an area of such importance, you would want to do the right thing – the first time. But the proliferation of pharmaceutical asthma drugs in recent years is staggering. A partial list of generic asthma drugs follows that serve as an example to show the extent of product growth that this epidemic of asthmatic cases has spawned.
Budesonide, Beclomethasone, Flunisolide, Fluticasone, Salbutamol or Albutrerol, Salmeterol, Prednisone, Prednisolone, Theophylline and Zileutron are a small number of the products on the market. They come in every conceivable form, under numerous brand and trade names – from tablet to capsule to gel cap to solution to injection and ingestible syrups.

How it Works

In order for an asthma drug to get approved, it goes through the same rigorous testing as other mainstream pharmaceuticals. The United States Food and Drug Administration takes its job very seriously. But so do all the pharmaceutical multi-national corporations that potentially stand to make billions of dollars on a single successful new product.
Here already, before the product ever gets to market, the negotiations are underway. If the signs are promising, lab testing is pushed forward and the layers of bureaucratic requirements are waded through by hoop jumping drug company specialists – with the assistance of lobbyists and attorneys of course. And we thought it was about finding a cure or at least an effective treatment for another crippling disease.
Bio-ceuticals and Nutri-ceuticals
Bio-ceuticals are typically made from biological origin and may include powders, roots, tinctures and concoctions. Nutri-ceuticals are more in the line of vitamins, supplements and the like. Although these are not technically asthma drugs, bio-ceuticals and nutri-ceuticals do represent medicinals and reflect the interest of a growing number of health practitioners, MD’s included. The range of products in the alternative medicine arena is also soaring – driven by sincere efforts and hopes of profit alike.
It’s nice to know there are many asthma drug options; choosing wisely is the challenge for the modern consumer.

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Allergic Asthma: From Pollen To Pets, Know What Causes Your Asthma

Asthma is a disease of the respiratory system that causes the airways to constrict and fill with mucous, making the person unable to breathe. People who suffer from asthma attacks find the experience very frightening. Those who experience someone else having an asthma attack find the experience just as frightening. That’s because the person stops breathing there’s little anyone can do. There are medications that help an asthma attack, usually in the form of inhalers, and these have been shown to prevent or help an oncoming asthma attack. However, knowing what causes your asthma is the first step in preventing a serious attack.

One form of asthma is known as allergic asthma. With allergic asthma, certain things a person is allergic to brings on an asthma attack. For instance, if the person is allergic to pollen, then being around an excessive amount of pollen can bring on an asthma attack. If the person suffers from an allergy to pet dander, then being around a dog or attack may bring on an attack. Allergic asthma can be very serious if steps aren’t taken to treat it. The first step in knowing if you suffer from allergic asthma is to take an allergy test.

Allergy Tests

To determine if a person suffers from allergic asthma, the doctor will give you an allergy test. During an allergy test, the doctor makes small injections all down either side of your spine. Inside each of these injections is a bit of material from different sources. If the injection sites become red or inflamed, it’s determined that you are allergic to that material. Once the allergy is identified, your doctor will then be able to determine if you do, in fact, suffer from allergic asthma.

People who suffer from allergic asthma can live a normal life, just like everyone else. They must make certain sacrifices, however. For instance, if they are allergic to pets, they will have to either consider getting rid of their pet or they must insist that the pet not congregate where they sleep, etc. Making small, but very important, lifestyle changes may save your life. Allergic asthma isn’t the end of the world, getting a diagnosis isn’t a death sentence, but having allergic asthma just means you have to be a little more careful about what you breathe into your lungs.

Is There a Natural Cure for Asthma?

As a general statement, Mother Nature has provided a cure for every disease known to humankind. Sometimes, humans underestimate the power of nature and proportionately overestimate their capacity to intervene. It is true that modern science has achieved the capacity of creating miracles. However, it is still far behind the awesome power of nature.

Natural Cure for Asthma vs. Medical Treatment

Life can be tough for a person who has asthma. However, the saying, “Necessity needs no teacher” sums up what this article is all about. When a person is forced by the circumstance to survive, they will try to find a way. Many times, the way found through non-traditional methods is one that is most suited for the person. You may call this fate, or guidance from God – but this is what happens most often.

There are many natural cures for asthma. Of course, since the FDA does not endorse these, it may take some time for patients to accept it. The point is, that you do have choices if you are willing to try them. There is acupuncture, which uses needles to stimulate chemical reactions within the body to correct the existing imbalances. Many people reported that acupuncture is extremely beneficial. One should be very careful however regarding the sterilization of the needles. An option could be to carry your own set with you, which can be thrown away after each session.

Another supposedly effective natural cure for asthma is yoga. Yoga is an ancient science originating from India, whereby one does some particular exercises (the positions of which are called asanas) by which the problems inside the body and mind can be cured. Some people find it highly effective, while the peculiar positions that the yoga dictates horrify some people. It depends upon you if you would like to choose this type of any other natural cure for asthma.

Amongst modern science alternative cures, laser treatment usually forces open the airway by cutting off the obstructions. This provides almost instant relief – however the downside of it is that it may leave scar tissue which would create complication later on in life.

You will find hypnosis listed under natural cure for asthma – and many find it a good alternative. The success of this type of treatment depends upon the practitioner and the patient’s state of mind.

Before making up your mind, it would be good if you conduct some research and judge for yourself. Avail word-of-mouth recommendations and information from friends and the internet.

Adult Asthma: Takes Some Getting Used To

Asthma is a disease of the respiratory system that causes the airways to constrict and close up. The result is that the person suffering from asthma can’t breathe. Asthma can be very serious if not monitored and certain precautions aren’t taken. Usually, if a person has asthma, they are diagnosed as children. By following precautions early in life, they become less cumbersome and, thus, are easily followed in adulthood. However, when adult asthma occurs, it can take a lot of getting used to.

Some people suffer from adult asthma who didn’t have asthma as a child. This can be caused for a variety of reasons, such as certain allergies. If a person is diagnosed with adult asthma, they must take certain precautions they never had to deal with growing up. The old saying you can’t teach old dogs new tricks must not apply. You must follow these precautions or else your adult asthma can seriously harm you or take your life. The precautions depend on what kind of adult asthma you suffer from.

Consult Your Doctor

To determine what kind of adult asthma you suffer from, you’ll want to make an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor will be able to tell you, after performing a series of tests, what kind of asthma you have as well as what activities or things to avoid. For instance, if your adult asthma is caused by an allergy to pollen, you’ll want to stay away from areas with a high concentration of pollen. Your doctor will also prescribe you medicine, usually in the form of an inhaler.

Adult asthma doesn’t mean your life is over. Adult asthma can be serious and it can, in fact, be life threatening if certain precautions aren’t taken. It may take some getting used to but by making a small, conscious effort, you can do what you need to do in order to prevent asthma from controlling your life.

Even if you weren’t asthmatic as a child, if you have adult asthma, you can live a long, normal life, you’ll just have to make small changes to your everyday life. Stay away from those activities or things that cause your asthma and listen to your doctor. If your doctor prescribes medicine, take your medicine. If your doctor gives you an inhaler, make sure you have your inhaler with you at all times. You’ll get used to it in no time at all and your adult asthma will be something you can put in the back of your mind. Control your asthma; don’t let asthma control you.

How do Asthma Triggers Aggravate the Disease?

Asthma is a disease that is caused by the dysfunction of the lungs and the airway. In a normal person, when one inhales any irritant, the airway constricts to prevent it from going any further. After a brief moment, it relaxes and expels it. In this way it gets rid the irritant without much trouble.

In an asthmatic person the reaction would be very different. The airway constricts here also, as a direct reaction to the irritant. However, after that, instead of relaxing and expelling the irritant that troubles the airway, it will further constrict cutting the air and causing breathlessness. At this time, the immediate use of an inhaler or nebulizer can again relax the airway, allowing the asthma patient to breathe easy again.

As explained above, an attack of asthma has to be triggered by an irritant. This irritant can be anything – cold, exercise, sudden fright, sudden emotion, pollen, dust, animal dander, dust mites, food smell, powder, cigarette smoke, mold, cockroaches, and the like. When the patient encounters any such asthma trigger, the asthma flares up and provokes an attack.

Hence, it is always advisable to be very careful if you are an asthma patient and you feel that you are about to get into contact with any such asthma trigger. Prevention is always better than cure. While an attack can be pacified with the help of an inhaler or any other prescribed medicine, the best would be to avoid the attack altogether. This is possible only when you would be very attentive regarding your surroundings and try to keep away as much as possible from any asthma triggers present in your environment.

Prevention Measure within the Home

The patient should make his or her home totally dust free as this is one of the major asthma triggers known. There are dust proof mattresses and pillows as well as dust proof covers available which can be very beneficial. The home should be cleaned as much as possible every day so that dust is not accumulated in the house. An asthmatic person should not keep any pets – especially dogs, cats or birds since these may cause allergy with their hair, feathers, etc.

Asthmatic patients should not smoke or stay in the company of people smoking around them. As long as they take care to stay away from any asthma trigger, the asthmatic person can lead a close to normal life.

Get to Know Your Asthma Doctor

If you’ve already done the research or live with an asthma patient, you probably already know that asthma is a debilitating chronic condition that impacts the body – specifically the lungs and their ability to process air flow. With air passages constricted, breathing is labored and also subject to environmental sensitivities. In certain cases, asthma can also be a fatal disease.

Naturally we look to the medical community for help with acute care and in managing chronic asthma. Choosing a good asthma doctor is a necessary first step if management efforts are to succeed.

General Practitioners vs. Asthma Doctors

Whether to stay with your family doctor or pediatrician is a personal decision. Most medical doctors have a good understanding of asthma and asthmatic symptoms. Locating a patient-friendly allergy specialist or even a pulmonologist need not be a big challenge. Your primary doctor can and should assist you in this process.

The main thing is if you have questions – ask them; if you are new to the area ask for a referral or referral list. Resource groups, yellow pages, online search engines can all assist in the process of finding a suitable asthma doctor. Even among asthma doctors there are different specialists and it might take a little time to find the right one for your situation. However, it is well worth the search.

Allergy practitioners are a great resource and are generally very competent in critical areas that impact asthma patients. Their particular niche keeps them abreast of what the current challenges are within a particular area or geographic location. And as they are familiar with environmental complications that asthma sufferers are encountering throughout the year (seasonal allergies, outbreaks of flu, pollen blooms, pollution alerts, etc), they hold a frontline position in the army of asthma doctors and practitioners.

Alternative, Holistic and Naturopathic Approaches

It used to be that if an asthma doctor was called in that was it. However, that is not so these days. A whole team of practitioners can produce very positive effects if working in harmony. Natural methods, adjustments to diet, exercise and lifestyle changes in general are looked at as a good thing now rather than restrictions or limitations on life opportunities.

If we take to heart the idea that the whole world lives on hope, then it also applies here and much is possible where human efforts are concerned. Ask you asthma doctor to come to the place where medicine and hope meet success.

Is Asthma Management Really Possible?

There is always hope – the whole world lives on hope.

Asthma management is a relatively recent term encompassing methods, techniques and modalities used to deal with asthma and asthmatic symptoms. The main idea is to assist those suffering with asthma in carrying on with a normal life, or as normal a life as humans aspire towards.

So much has been written about asthma management already and as more is understood about asthma, the available knowledge base grows. In the United States, the National Asthma Council not only compiles but brings together asthma management resources from multiple sources.

Internet search engines further facilitate access to traditional and alternative asthma management techniques. The world of science has opened up new and promising air function research that looks both forward and backward in time to unlock clues to elusive solutions.

Traditional Treatments

Traditional asthma medications play a significant role in management theory. These consist of inhalers that basically treat air availability issues such as airway constriction or obstruction. Primarily anti-inflammatory, prescription drugs act on the body’s adrenal and epinephrine activators related to muscles. Whether to treat the condition daily or on occurrence is a discussion to have with one’s primary doctor or asthma specialist.

Pediatric considerations play a paramount part and require separate asthma management focus. Since philosophies and guidelines keep changing, it is best to stay abreast of medical advances. Simply put this requires maintaining more than a casual monitoring of events. Rightly so as there is nothing casual about an asthma attack.

Alternative Medicine

Modern asthma management takes alternative therapies seriously. With the recent onset of acupuncture, ayurvedic medicine and homeopathy in western society, available options for treatments are more holistic in nature and have flourished.

Each modality has its own strengths and shortcomings but they are worth investigating. Many MD’s are now working these complementary therapies into their treatment regimes for asthma patients. Asthma management has stepped into the 21st century with the addition of ancient remedies.

Action Plan

A discussion would be incomplete without considering the Action Plan – a vital and potentially life-saving element. We are all adding action plans to our lifestyles in preparation for emergencies – floods, hurricanes and other disasters. In the life of one who suffers asthmatic attacks, this is not just for peace of mind. Asthma management means knowing what to do, who to call and which medication to take.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, asthma management is about survival and it’s about working solutions to reach and maintain a normal life. With hope, diligence and determined effort, the asthma sufferer can live and grow, benefiting from the positive approaches modern asthma management offers.

The Available Forms of Asthma Relief

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a serious disease, which is chronic and non-curable, and yet is able to be relieved with the proper forms of medication and other treatment. Asthma can affect anyone, from children to adults, but it especially evident in young children and seniors. The disease of asthma causes asthma attacks which can occur at anytime, and which can take anywhere from minutes to days to occur.

What are the Forms of Asthma Relief That are Available?

There are several different forms of asthma relief that are available today, and the type of asthma relief that you as an asthmatic should take will depend on what your physician has to say. Your physician will decide on the best form of treatment for you, depending on your own personal and particular circumstances, as well as the severity of your asthma condition.

Asthma relief basically consists of any type of drug that provides relief from asthma symptoms, and which is in fact the most common type of asthma medication. These forms of asthma relief are used especially during an attack, when the airways constrict, and these are used in order to help relax the smooth muscle, which in turn helps to open the airways again.

Although these relievers are not necessarily able to prevent asthma attacks, they are helpful in relieving the triggers of asthma as well as helping during attacks. The most common forms of asthma relievers are beta-agonists, which are used to stimulate beta-receptors, and which are able to relax smooth muscle and open the bronchioles.

There are two basic types of beta-agonists, which are: short-acting and long-acting. The short-acting forms are used to help overcome attacks, and the long-acting forms work by keeping the airways open for several hours, and these are typically taken regularly even if asthma symptoms are not present in the patient. Some of the most popular medications in these regards are: Salbutamol, Bitoterol, Ephedrine, Epinephrine, Fenoterol, Formoterol, Isoetharine, Isoproterenol, Orciprenaline, Pirbuterol, Procaterol, Salmeterol, and Terbutaline.

The specific type of reliever that is best for you will be prescribed by your doctor, and the matter of whether you have any allergies, for instance, will need to be taken into account in regards to the final decision of what type of medication you should take. There is also the matter of how frequently you will be able to take the medication, as some require a daily dose while others are more infrequent.