Treatment and Prevention
There's no cure for asthma. It's a chronic condition, and it can last a lifetime. Asthma treatment is aimed at keeping you feeling well, with as few symptoms as possible (or none at all in many cases). There are three main things you can do to treat asthma:
- avoid triggers
- use "preventer" medications such as corticosteroids (e.g., beclomethasone*, budesonide, or fluticasone) or leukotriene receptor antagonists (e.g., montelukast or zafirlukast)
- alleviate symptoms using "reliever" medications such as bronchodilators (e.g., salbutamol, formoterol, or terbutaline)
Asthma Triggers
Avoiding triggers is your first defence against an asthma attack. Below are some common asthma triggers and their remedies. Making these simple lifestyle changes to avoid your asthma triggers can go a long way toward preventing attacks.
Pollen (grasses, trees, weeds)
Keep doors and windows closed and use air conditioning to keep pollen out.
Dust mites (found in carpet, furniture, and pillows)
Use special coverings for mattresses and pillows. Remove carpets in bedrooms. Wash bedding in very hot water. Keep humidity between 30% and 40%.
Animal hair and dander
Pet removal is the best way to avoid pet allergen. If you have pets, keep them out of bedrooms and off furniture.
Mould
Get a dehumidifier to eliminate mould. Avoid freshly cut grass.
Environment (smoke, pollution, cold air)
Stop smoking and avoid all smokey areas. Stay indoors when the outside air quality is poor. Cover your nose and mouth in cold weather.
Exercise
Use reliever medication 10 to 15 minutes before exercising. Warm up and cool-down for 3 to 5 minutes.
Although avoiding triggers is an important part of asthma management, it is not always possible to avoid them completely. Therefore, medications are often needed to prevent and treat asthma symptoms. The most common asthma prevention medications are called corticosteroids (e.g., beclomethasone, budesonide, or fluticasone) and are inhaled through a "puffer" or inhaler. They are designed to decrease the swelling or inflammation in your airways. It usually takes a week or two for these medications to get the swelling and inflammation under control. They don't provide fast relief of asthma symptoms, but will prevent future symptoms. They control inflammation, which is the underlying cause of asthma.
People with asthma symptoms often need treatment that provides immediate relief. Bronchodilators (e.g., salbutamol, formoterol, or terbutaline) work quickly to relax the muscles around the airways and allow you to breathe more easily. These are reliever medications, which treat symptoms only and not the disease itself. If you are using relievers three times a week or more, talk to your doctor or health care professional. You may need some changes in your medication(s).
Asthma itself is difficult to prevent, but a lot can be done to reduce or eliminate your asthma symptoms.
If your doctor has given you a preventive medication to use every day, follow the instructions carefully. If you use it as suggested, it should control the swelling in your airways and reduce your asthma symptoms over the long term.
Since asthma medications are often inhaled through a "puffer," they require extra knowledge and care on your part. Asthma inhalers have to be used properly to get the right amount of medication into your lungs.
Learning how to use inhalers properly can take some practice. Ask your doctor or health care professional to check to see if you are using your inhaler properly. A spacer, a device that fits on your inhaler, makes it easier for you to ensure that more of your medication is reaching your lungs. Spacers also help to reduce some of the side effects of inhaled corticosteroids.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.