If you have a child who has recently been diagnosed with an asthma condition, then you should know that treatment is necessary to control the condition properly. Asthma treatment falls into two categories and includes long-term and immediate treatment. Keep reading to learn about a few differences between the treatment types:
Long-Term Medicines Stop Symptoms From Occurring
Long-term treatment medications are meant to reduce the inflammation in the airways that cause asthma symptoms to occur in the first place. In other words, the medicines are anti-inflammatory treatments that keep you from developing an asthma attack in the first place. The medicine reduces the effects that triggers have on your lung function. Long-term medicines are an integral part of the asthma treatment plan and they are typically inhaled steroid medicines.
Long-term inhaled steroid medications do not reduce asthma symptoms though. However, they can reduce the severity of symptoms if inhalers are used daily over a long period of time. In some cases, oral steroid medications may be needed to control asthma and to reduce the prevalence of severe asthma attacks. However, oral medicines are typically only taken for a short period of time before the treatment is switched to an inhaler. Basically, once the risks of a severe asthma attack are reduced, you can start using the inhaler.
Short-Term Medicines Reduce Muscle Tightness
While long-term inhalers reduce the inflammation across the airways, short-term inhalers help to relax the muscles around the lung tissues that cause air flow constriction. This helps to limit the constriction around the airways and opens them up so you are able to breathe freely. The inhalers should be used when symptoms of a flare-up are first noticed. Since the medicine is directly inhaled, it works almost instantly. However, the medicine will hit its peak effectiveness after about 30 minutes.
Quick inhalers or short-term medicines should only be used on occasion. Use once or twice a week is common as the asthma action plan initially puts into place. However, use should reduce significantly as asthma triggers are identified and long-term medicines are used. If you need to use your inhaler more often, then you should speak with your asthma doctor about changing your long-term treatment plan to one that is more effective. Stronger inhalers and oral medications may be needed to keep short-term inhaler use down.
If you want to know more about asthma and how the ailment is effectively treated, speak with an allergy or asthma doctor like those at Cookingham Allergy & Asthma Associates, P.C.
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