Asthma Medications: What Are The Medications Used For The Treatment Of Asthma?
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You may need to regularly take long-term control medications to prevent flare-ups and short-term “rescue” medications to control symptoms once they start. The more you learn about your asthma the better you can manage it by: following a personal written asthma action plan developed with your doctor taking asthma medications as advised by your doctor even when you are well finding out what triggers your asthma and avoiding these triggers where possible seeing your doctor for regular check-ups to monitor and control your asthma Even when you are well, you should see your doctor regularly so that they can review your asthma and change your medication if necessary. Taking in to account your own level of asthma and your current asthma medications, your doctor will work with you to develop a personalized written asthma action plan. Research has shown that people who learn and understand more about their asthma, see their doctor regularly, have their own written asthma action plan and take their medications correctly, will feel well and have: better controlled asthma; fewer symptoms; fewer asthma attacks; fewer days off school/work due to asthma; fewer hospital visits due to asthma; and an overall better quality of life.
Your pediatrician will choose the best medications for your child and talk to you about when to use them. Signs that your child may have a MILD asthma attack are: Breathing is mildly difficult Breathing is only slightly faster than usual Speaking in complete sentences is easily done Mild complaints of wheezing, cough, shortness of breath or tightness in the chest Skin color is good Peak flow rate is 70 percent to 90 percent of the child’s personal best No “drawing in” of muscles between the ribs is noticeable Awareness of surrounding is normal and the child is alert Signs that your child may have a MODERATE asthma attack are: Breathing is moderately difficult Breathing is faster than usual Speaking is affected because of difficulty breathing (phrases or partial sentences are spoken) Moderate complaints of wheezing, cough, shortness of breath or tightness in the chest Skin color is normal or may be pale Peak flow rate is 50 percent to 70 percent of the child’s personal best Slight to moderate “drawing in” of muscles between the ribs is necessary to breathe Awareness of surroundings is normal and the child is alert Signs that your child may have a SEVERE asthma attack are: Breathing is extremely difficult Breathing is very fast or very slow with a lot of distress (labored breathing) Speaking is affected because of difficulty breathing (single words or short sentences are spoken) Severe complaints of wheezing, cough, shortness of breath or tightness in the chest Skin color is poor Peak flow rate is less than 50 percent of the child’s personal best “Drawing in” of the neck, abdomen and chest muscles is needed in order to breathe Level of awareness has decreased (child may be drowsy) Signs that your child’s asthma is getting worse: Asthma symptoms, such as cough, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath, occur more frequently and/or get worse Large decreases in your child’s peak flow rate occur Asthma medications do not seem to help your child’s cough or breathing problems You frequently have to take your child to your pediatrician or the hospital emergency room for treatment of acute asthma Your child is admitted to the hospital for asthma treatment Your child is admitted to a hospital intensive care unit for asthma treatment Large changes in peak flow rate measurements occur (more than 20 percent change between morning and evening measurements)Your child’s asthma symptoms increase (cough, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath); symptoms may occur more often at night and awaken the child from sleep Your child’s asthma attacks last longer and do not easily improve with treatment Special oral anti-inflammatory medications, such as steroids, are needed more often to control the asthma Your child’s asthma attacks quickly become severe. Your child has panic attacks with severe confusion and anxiety with the asthma attacks. There is different kinds of asthma medications. In this case, the patient may be treated for a few weeks with anti-inflammatory medications and then returns for another spirometry test. Most asthma medications are inhaled (which means that a person takes the medication by breathing it into the lungs), but asthma medications can also take the form of pills or liquids. Some medications can be used as needed to stop asthma symptoms (such as wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath) when a person first notices them.
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