If you or someone you care for has asthma, treatment aims are simple: stop flare-ups, ease symptoms fast, and keep lungs working. You'll see short-acting inhalers for quick relief, daily controller medicines to cut inflammation, and extra options for severe cases. Knowing which medicine does what helps you avoid emergencies and live normally.
Relievers (often called rescue inhalers) are short-acting bronchodilators like albuterol. Use these when wheezing or breathless. Controllers reduce airway inflammation; inhaled corticosteroids such as fluticasone are common. Combination inhalers pair a long-acting bronchodilator (like salmeterol) with an inhaled steroid to both open airways and control swelling. Oral steroids such as prednisolone may be used short-term for bad flare-ups. Newer biologics target immune pathways for people with severe, persistent asthma that doesn’t respond to standard drugs.
Learn and practise proper inhaler technique. A wrong puff means less medicine reaches the lungs. Use a spacer with metered-dose inhalers if you struggle with timing. Keep a written action plan with your doctor: it should list daily meds, what to do during worsening symptoms, and when to call for help. Track triggers—dust, smoke, pets, strong smells—and reduce exposure. Regular reviews with your provider let you step up or step down treatment based on control.
Short-acting inhalers work within minutes and last a few hours. Controllers take days to weeks to cut inflammation but reduce flare-ups long term. Oral steroids give fast relief for severe attacks but are not a long-term solution because of side effects like weight gain, mood changes, and higher infection risk. Combination inhalers simplify routines for many people. Biologics are injections or infusions given under specialist care and can greatly reduce exacerbations for eligible patients.
If rescue inhalers fail to bring relief, breathing becomes laboured, or lips and face turn blue, get emergency care now. Also seek help if you can’t speak full sentences, feel dizzy, or your peak flow meter reads much lower than your personal best. Don’t wait through the night—severe asthma can deteriorate quickly.
Only use prescription medicines from licensed pharmacies. If you order online, check for a valid prescription requirement and clear contact details. Ask your doctor before switching inhalers; different devices work differently. Keep spare inhalers and check expiry dates. Small steps—good technique, trigger control, and having a plan—cut most flare-ups and make asthma manageable.
For exercise-induced asthma, use a reliever 10–15 minutes before activity and warm up slowly. Get yearly flu shots and other vaccines your doctor recommends. Keep a simple symptom diary—note triggers, rescue use, and sleep disruption—and bring it to follow-up visits. Rinse your mouth after steroid inhalers to avoid thrush. Ask your clinician about stepping down controllers once control is steady. If you smoke, try quitting; smoking blunts medication benefit. Teach family members how to use your inhaler and where spare doses are kept. Also set refill reminders.
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