Chronic Asthma
>Who Would Use It>Chronic Asthma
Most asthma patients do not have COPD, and not all COPD patients have asthma. Many however have an asthmatic element to either chronic bronchitis or emphysema, and some patients can have a mix of all three.
Whilst chronic bronchitis and emphysema cannot be reversed, asthma can be, and responds well to many different medications. For this reason though, there have been many discussions among medical professionals as to whether chronic asthma should be included in the term COPD. That said however, many people with an impaired lung function are prone to developing asthma.
Asthma causes inflammation of the airways in the lungs, causing them to constrict, and results in the patient wheezing and experiencing breathlessness. Common characteristics also include tightness of the chest, and coughing.
Treatment is based mainly on the use of inhalers, in the form of “Relievers” and “Preventers.”
Most adults with asthma use a reliever inhaler, most commonly containing Salbutamol and terbutaline. With these inhalers, a small dose of medicine is delivered directly to the lungs, which causes the muscles of the airways to open up. The inflammation in the airways is however not reduced with these drugs. The resulting relief is from the inhaler is fast, but the effect only lasts for a few hours.
When asthma patients have symptoms more than 3 times per week, or experience symptoms during the night, a preventer inhaler may be prescribed in addition to the reliever. These are designed to reduce the inflammation and when taken regularly prevent asthma symptoms. Most of the preventer inhalers contain corticosteroids, such as beclometasone, budesonide, fluticasone and mometasone. The dose will depend on the frequency and severity of the symptoms.
In addition to the above, if the asthma is not being fully controlled, there are a number of options that your doctor or asthma nurse will explain to you. These may include a long-acting beta-2 agonist inhaler, taken with your. There is also the option of taking tablets that help with the asthma symptoms, take theophylline tablets that would help to keep airways open.
Steroid tablets and nebulisers can be prescribed for severe attacks, however all available medicines and treatment options will be discussed in detail with your doctor, or your asthma nurse.
