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- Pulmonary Introduction
- Sleep Disorders
- Sleep Apnea
What is your Snore Score?- Quit Smoking
Prepare to quit
Using Medications
Staying Smoke Free- Asthma
Kinds of Medicines
Special Hints
Asthma
Asthma is a lung disease. It causes trouble with breathing, and this trouble usually happens in episodes, sometimes called "attacks." Asthma is not contagious. Asthma can be controlled or managed, but not cured. When uncontrolled, asthma can be disabling. It is seldom fatal, but unfortunately the death rate is rising.
Who gets asthma? Asthma affects over 13 million adults and children in the United States. Anybody can get it at any age. But it tends to run in families. If you have close relatives with asthma, you are more likely to have it too.
What happens in an asthma episode? When you have trouble breathing because of asthma, the problem is in the airways of your lungs. The airways become narrow because the muscles around them tighten, their inner linings swell, and extra mucus clogs smaller airways. Breathing gets harder as you try to force air through the narrower airways. The air you breathe may make a wheezing or whistling sound, and you may cough or spit up mucus.
Are asthma episodes dangerous? Episodes may be mild or severe. Most often they are mild and the airways will open in a few minutes to a few hours. However, some asthma episodes last much longer and some are very serious and need immediate treatment. By learning what you can do to help your asthma, you can have fewer and milder episodes. It will be helpful if you have a close family member or friend who can learn how to help you prevent and control asthma episodes.
Kinds of Asthma Medicines
Since everyone's asthma is different, asthma medicines come in different forms: liquids, pills, powders, vapors and injections. Medicines are given in different ways to different people. Some take regular daily doses. Others take medicine only when they expect to encounter an asthma trigger or when they feel early warning signs of an asthma episode. Still others get regular doses plus special doses when triggers or symptoms appear. Although drug companies sell asthma medicines under many brand names, there are only a few major types of asthma medicines.
Steroids
Steroids are a group of anti-inflammatory drugs related to cortisone. They help reduce or stop inflammatory reactions in the airways. Steroids are the most effective anti-inflammatory drugs used for asthma treatment. Steroids may be taken by mouth or breathed into the lungs using an inhaler. If your doctor prescribes an inhaled drug, follow these steps when you use the inhaler:
- Shake the inhaler well.
- Breathe out steadily.
- Tilt your head back to straighten the air passage to your lungs.
- Use the mouthpiece of the inhaler as directed by your physician.
- Press down on the inhaler to release the medicine as your start to breathe in slowly and deeply.
- Continue to breathe in slowly and deeply for as long as you can.
- Hold your breath for 10 seconds to allow the medicine to reach deeply into your lungs.
- If your directions are for two puffs, wait three to five minutes and shake the inhaler again before taking the second puff.
- Rinse out your mouth so no steroid medication remains.
- Never take more medicine than your doctor prescribes.
At least twice a week, take apart the mouthpiece and wash it with soap and water or alcohol. Always keep a full spare canister. If you use inhalers for both bronchodilators and steroids, use the bronchodilator first. Steroids can be extremely helpful in treating severe asthma, but when taken by mouth they can have many side effects.
Inhaled steroids have far fewer side effects. Doctors try to use the smallest amounts necessary to do the job. Some side effects, like weight gain and fluid retention, disappear when steroids are reduced or stopped, so they cause no great concern. But if oral steroids are taken daily for months or years, they may have serious long-term effects. Your doctor may try to reduce the side effects by having you take steroids every other day rather than daily or by switching from oral steroids to inhaled steroids.
Steroids should never be stopped suddenly, but should be gradually reduced according to your doctor's directions.
Cromolyn sodium, nedocromil sodium
Cromolyn sodium, nedocromil sodium and other types of anti-inflammatory drugs help to stop allergy-related narrowing of the airways. Cromolyn also helps stop the airway narrowing that occurs after exercise and after exposure to cold air and some air pollutants. It is used to prevent asthma episodes, but is of no use after an episode starts. It cannot be taken by mouth, but is breathed in using an inhaler. It rarely causes any unwanted side effects.
Theophylline
Theophylline is a widely used drug for asthma. It relaxes and opens airways that tighten during an asthma episode, and so it is known as a "bronchodilator." It is usually taken by mouth, but in severe episodes a similar drug can be injected directly into the bloodstream. Theophylline enemas and suppositories are also available but are used less often.
Theophylline can be used daily without losing its effectiveness or causing unwanted side effects. But side effects can occur if the dosage is too high for you. Tell your doctor if you have nausea, vomiting, stomachaches, loss of appetite, dizziness, headaches, or irritability. People differ in the amount of theophylline they need to take to control their asthma. Your doctor may want to check the drug level in your blood from time to time to be sure you are taking exactly the right amount for you.
Inhaled bronchodilators
Inhaled bronchodilators are medicines that are breathed into the lungs, using an inhaler. They act to open the airways. A newer form of inhaled bronchodilator is ipratropium bromide. It may be helpful for some patients. These drugs are widely used in treating asthma. If your doctor prescribes one for you, be sure to follow his or her directions carefully. They are powerful drugs, and some people harm themselves by using too much. Others fail to get the benefit of the drugs by not using the inhaler properly.
Your doctor may prescribe a metered dose dispenser-inhaler, which is designed to release a measured amount of medicine for each use. If you have trouble using the inhaler, your doctor also can prescribe a spacer or holding chamber device to help use the inhaler more easily. If you use an inhaler, follow the directions under "steroids."
Oral Bronchodilators
Oral bronchodilators are medications similar to the ones inhaled but made up in tablet form. They work more slowly than the inhaled drugs. Some doctors prefer them for patient convenience. Side effects such as tremor and nervousness may occur.
Adrenaline
Adrenaline is one of the most powerful drugs for helping to open the airways. Its action is strong but brief, and it cannot be taken by mouth. It must be given by injection. For these reasons, it is used to treat severe asthma episodes only.
Ask your doctor about your medicines. If you cannot tell from the labels which of these groups your medicines belong to, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Prescribing medicines is you doctor's job, but managing their use is yours. It is very important for you to know what you are taking and why, so that you use it the right way.
Special hints for making it easier to live with asthma
- DO stay away if your home is being painted. Paint fumes are notorious for provoking asthmatic attacks.
- DO avoid sudden changes of temperature. On a hot summer's day, DON'T wander in and out of air-conditioned stores.
- DO avoid people with respiratory infections whenever possible.
- DO try to avoid emotionally upsetting situations.
- DO get enough fluid in your diet – six to eight glasses of liquids a day.
- DO take all medications prescribed by your doctor exactly as directed.
- DON'T smoke... and DON'T stay in a room with people who do, whether it's at home, at business, or in a public place.
- DON'T go outside in extremely cold weather, but if you must, a cold weather mask may be helpful.
- DON'T overexert yourself. But DON'T stay away from all exercise either. You will be your own best guide as to how much activity you can tolerate. And along similar lines, schedule frequent rest periods if you know you're going to have a busy day.
- DON'T take any medicine without telling your doctor. This includes simple remedies you can buy without a prescription. Remember, even aspirin can cause asthma.
- DON'T take sleeping pills or sedatives if you can't sleep because of a mild asthma attack. These medications have a tendency to slow down your breathing and make breathing more difficult. Instead, try propping yourself up on extra pillows while waiting for your antiasthma medication to work.
- AVOID inhalation of insecticides, deodorants, cleaning aids, etc.
Pulmonary Introduction | Sleep Disorders
Sleep Apnea (What is your Snore Score?)
Quit Smoking (Prepare to quit, Using Medications, Staying Smoke Free)
Asthma (Kinds of Medicines, Special Hints)