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Asthma Medication (Symptoms, Diagnosis,Treatment, Medicine and Medication of Asthma)

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By guidebaba


Asthma Education - What is Asthma?

Asthma is a long-term chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways causing several breathing problems.

Asthma causes recurring periods of wheezing (asthmatic: relating to breathing with a whistling sound), chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. The coughing often occurs at night or early in the morning.

Asthma may affects people of all ages including kids and adults both, but it most often starts in childhood.

Asthma Education: Here I explain the Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Medication of Asthma.

This Picture of Asthma shows the location of the lungs and airways in the body - A cross-section of a normal airway  - A cross-section of an airway during asthma symptoms.
This Picture of Asthma shows the location of the lungs and airways in the body - A cross-section of a normal airway - A cross-section of an airway during asthma symptoms.


Symptoms of Asthma basically involves – coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness in your chest.
Symptoms of Asthma basically involves โ€“ coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness in your chest.

Signs and Symptoms of Childhood Asthma and Adult Asthma

Do i have asthma?

Childhood Asthma Symptoms:

Symptoms of Asthma in Children includes:

Wheezing.

Coughing.

Chest tightness.

Shortness of breath or rapid and shallow breathing.

Difficulty breathing.

Sleep disturbance.

Tiring and fatigue during exercise.

Adult Asthma Symptoms:

Symptoms of Asthma in Adults includes:

Coughing

Wheezing

Shortness of breath

Tightness in your chest


Diagnosis of Asthma:

Diagnosing Asthma - If you think you are suffering from any of the symptoms of asthma, you should immediately consult your doctor. Your doctor will do the diagnosis of asthma to ascertain if you are suffering from asthma or not.

Diagnosing Asthma or Diagnosis of Asthma includes:

  • Your doctor will use a device called "peak flow meter" that measures the flow or air out of your lungs. The peak flow meter is also used to monitor whether a treatment works for you or not.

  • A spirometry test is done to measure how well your lungs are functioning.

  • An allergy skin test or a blood test may be done to find out whether you're allergic to certain substances

  • Other tests such as chest X-rays are done to make sure you don't have any other breathing problems. For example, a disease called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has similar symptoms to asthma.


Treatment of asthma:

Asthma cannot be cured completely. However, it can be controlled to some extent. Treatment of Asthma involves a combination of medicines / drugs and asthma management.

Asthma Medicines / Drugs.

Inhalers, also known as puffers: These Asthma inhalers contain a gas that propels the correct dose of medicine either when the top is pressed down or on inhalation. This is inhaled into the airways. You will need to use your inhaler correctly in order for it to work properly.

There are two basic categories of inhaler medicines that are used for asthma:

  • relievers - to treat your symptoms
  • preventers - to help prevent your symptoms

If your asthma isn't well controlled using a regular steroid and occasional use of a short-acting reliever, a long-acting reliever can be added to your treatment. Long-acting relievers contain medicines such as salmeterol or formoterol. These medications are often combined with the steroid inhalers.

Spacers: are devices which can help you use your inhaler correctly. A spacer is a long tube which clips onto the inhaler. You breathe in and out of a mouthpiece at the other end of the tube.

Nebulisers make a mist of water and asthma medicine that you breathe in. They can deliver more of the medicine to exactly where it's needed than conventional inhalers. This is particularly important if you have a severe asthma attack and you require emergency treatment.

Albuterol works by relaxing muscles in the airways to improve breathing. Albuterol is used to treat bronchospasm (wheezing, shortness of breath) associated with reversible obstructive airway disease such as asthma.

Other Asthma medicines and drugs:

If you have a severe asthma attack, your doctor may prescribe a course of steroid tablets, such as prednisolone.These steroid tablets are not meant to take for a longer period or you may suffer from various side-effects.

Several other drugs and medicines in the form of tablets and inhalers are available for asthma treatment. These include tablets of montelukast (Singulair), zafirlukast (Accolate) or theophylline ( Slo-Phyllin).

Have an Asthma-Free and Happy Life !

Comments

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Riya  says:
11 months ago

Very nice article on asthma.

lizzy  says:
10 months ago

soo helpful!!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks :)

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