Common Asthma Treatments
Asthma treatments have come a long way in the past few decades that most people can manage this respiratory condition safely and effectively whereas in the old days it used to be a life threatening disease for many.
There are a variety of drug medications that someone with asthma can take. For instance, inhaled corticosteroids or ICSs are used to reduce the inflammation associated with long term asthma. These are also called controllers. Drugs are being developed all the time and trialled to decide whether they are improvements to current medications or not.
These ICSs come in two different forms: either a spray (aerosol) or in dry powder form. Some people also use a spacer device on their inhaler which can help with getting the full dose of the drug. Eventually this is not needed once the inhaling procedure has been mastered.
By reducing the inflammation in the bronchi (airways) they prevent them from narrowing which gives rise to the wheezing of an asthma attack. When trialled against a placebo, there is no better drug that ICS at this present time.
Beta antagonists are used to treat short term symptoms and asthma attacks and bring them quickly under control. These are also known as relievers. These types of asthma treatments are not long term cures and are intended for emergency use. They will act instantly to relieve the airways but will not reduce the long term inflammation which is the cause of asthma. Example relievers include Asmol, Airomir, Cricanyl, Epaq and Ventolin.
A natural remedy for asthma is turmeric. It is advised to take a teaspoon of this two or three times daily mixed with a liquid for easy consumption.
Prevention is also better than cure and it is advised that people with asthma should stay away from tobacco smoke and air pollution.