An Asthmatic apprehensive about treating their asthma must start with researching the two methods for asthma treatments. The primary treatment of asthma begins with long- term relief treatments; the second area of treatment of asthma is focused around short-term control or quick relief medicines. The ability to recognize when an attack is going to be triggered is where the patient suffering an asthma attack would use an inhaler (quick relief) to treating the asthma attack. Long term care of asthma is designed to prevent the asthma attack from happening less often, if not stopping asthma attacks altogether.

Long-Term care for Asthma Treatments

Long term care of asthma focuses on preventing irritated airways or preventing chemicals in the patient’s body that may cause airways to constrict and swell. Long term care of asthma should concentrate on preventing chemicals in the body which will likely cause allergy symptoms. Allergy symptoms is only one aspect of blocking asthma triggers which will most likely initiate an asthma attack. The goal for long term treatment is using medication that relaxes airways and reduces inflammation. In considering whether a patient should consider a long term treatment they should take into account how many times they need to use their inhaler. Physicians seem to agree that if patients need to use a rescue inhaler more than 3 times a week, then a long term care of asthma should be reevaluated and discussed with a physician.

Some long term care treatments consist of inhaled corticosteroids. There are a number of inhaled steroids. Even though these are steroids, they are not equivalent to steroids used to increase muscle mass. Corticosteroids are designed to diminish swelling in the airways and increase strength in the patient’s lungs. Brand name corticosteroids which are often inhaled are brand names such as: Flovent, Azmacort, Advair, Beclovent, Aerobid or Pulmicort. Medications such as these are routinely taken orally and the patientwill most likely take the medication anywhere from 2-4 times per day. Corticosteroids often come in the form of a round disc or a similar device which allows the user to inhale the medication. Even though these medications have proved to be valuable to some patients suffering from asthma some of these medications have side effects and ought to be discussed with a physician prior to treatment. In addition to corticosteroids there are also Leukotriene Modifiers which are taken in pill form. The most recognized brand names of Leukotriene Modifiers consist of Serevent, Fordil or Volmax. These medications were created to facilitate long term treatment asthma. Like Corticosteroids, Leukotriene Modifiers are not designed to provide quick relief for an asthma attack. Leukotriene Modifiers are designed to prevent or reduce swelling in the airways and lungs. Leukotriene is often used both alone and in combination with other medications such as corticosteroids. These are used to treat mild to moderate asthma symptoms.

Short –Term care for Asthma Treatments

Short term care treatments were established to swiftly offer relief to muscles surrounding airways which consistently tighten when an asthma attack occurs. Using inhalers as part of the quick relief treatment and should be used when the individual begins to feel their chest tighten, they start to cough, wheezing begins or they start to experience shortness of breath. Quick care treatments consist of Beta-2 agonists treatments. This is one of the most recognizable medications treatments of asthma. These Beta -2 agonists can be recognized as the inhalers people suffering from asthma carry. Inhalers are for temporary relief and are often used to prevent full blown asthma attacks. One of the benefits of inhalers is their ability to reduce the asthmatics anxiety and stress which as the ability to launch the person’s asthma attack. If the asthmatic uses short term treatments more than twice weekly this is a sign the person most likely does not have their asthma in control and should seek medical advice to try to get better control over their asthma. Albuterol is the most recognized bronchodilator or other wise mostly recognized as inhalers. Other beta-2 agonist medication used in treating short term asthma is brand names such as: Proventil, Ventolin, Xopenex, Maxair, Alupent or Atrovent. Many of these medications appear to have similar side affects. Common side affects include slight tremors with an increase in the individual’s heart rate.

In summary, there are two methods to treat asthma in order to prevent asthma attacks. The first is a long-term treatment with the second being a short- term treatment of asthma. The primary goal is preventing allergens from affecting the asthmatic while reducing inflammation of the airways. In the end using both methods to monitor your asthma using tools such as the peak flow meter will help asthmatics succeed in their asthma treatment.