What Are the Best Treatment Options for Asthma?
While there’s currently no cure for Asthma, it can be treated and controlled using effective treatment methods such as oral medications, inhalers and bronchial thermoplasty. Treatment can help control asthma symptoms and improve the quality of life. The treatment aims to prevent asthma attacks, limit symptoms, and avoid side effects of the medications. Learn from the best Canadian online pharmacy experts about the best treatment options for managing symptoms, which will help you live a normal, active life. Based on this knowledge, you can work with your healthcare provider to make an action plan and buy drugs from Canada online for an effective asthma treatment such as Flovent HFA 110 mcg inhalers.
Type of Asthma Treatments
Your doctor or asthma nurse will determine the right medications for you based on your symptoms, age, triggers, and what works best to keep your asthma under control. Long-term control medications reduce the swelling in your airways. Quick-relief inhalers quickly open swollen airways that limit breathing.
Long-term Ashma Control Medications
These medications are the cornerstone of asthma treatments. They help keep your condition under control on a daily basis and lower the chances of an asthma attack. Types of long-term asthma control medications may include:
- Inhaled corticosteroids (also known as steroids): These medications include fluticasone propionate like Flovent HFA 110 mcg, Xhance, budesonide like Pulmicort, Rhinocort, ciclesonide like Alvesco, beclomethasone like Qvar Redihaler, momethasone like Asmanex HFA, Asmanex Twisthaler and fluticasone furoate like Arnuity Ellipta. You may need to use corticosteroids for several days to achieve the desired result. Inhaled corticosteroids have a lower risk of severe side effects than oral corticosteroids.
- Combination inhalers: These medications contain a long-acting beta agonist and a corticosteroid. These include budesonide-formoterol (Symbicort), fluticasone-salmeterol (Advair HFA, Airduo Digihaler, others) and fluticasone furoate-vilanterol (Breo Ellipta).
- Leukotriene modifiers: These medications are taken by the mouth. They include zileuton (Zyflo), zafirlukast (Accolate) and montelukast (Singulair). Montelukast has been associated with psychological reactions such as aggression, agitation, depression, hallucinations, and suicidal behavior. You should seek immediate medical assistance if you experience any of these reactions.
- Theophylline: This medication is a pill that must be taken every day. It helps keep the airways open by relaxing the muscles around the airways. It requires regular blood tests, and it is not recommended to use it as often as other asthma medications.
Quick-relief Rescue Medications
These medications are used as needed during an asthma attack. They provide short-term symptom relief and can be used before exercising if your doctor prescribes them. Types of quick-relief medications may include:
- Short-acting beta-agonists: They can be taken using a hand-held, portable inhaler or a nebulizer.
- Anticholinergic agents: They are mostly used for chronic bronchitis and emphysema but can also treat severe asthma symptoms. They include tiotropium (Spiriva, Spiriva Respimat) and ipratropium (Atrovent HFA).
- Oral and intravenous corticosteroids: These medications relieve swelling in the airway caused by severe asthma. These medications, which include methylprednisolone (Medrol, Depo-Medrol, Solu-Medrol) and prednisone (Prednisone Intensol, Rayos), should be used only on a short-term basis to treat the condition.
Allergy Medications for Asthma Control
Allergy medications may help if your asthma is worsened or triggered by allergies. These may include:
- Allergy shots: With time, they gradually decrease your immune system’s reaction to specific allergens. Patients typically recieve shots once a week for a few months, then once every month for a period of around three to five years.
- Biologics: These medications are specifically for people with severe asthma. They may include mepolizumab (Nucala), omalizumab (Xolair), dupilumab (Dupixent), benralizumab (Fasenra), and reslizumab (Cinqair).
Bronchial Thermoplasty
This treatment is performed in people with severe asthma if their symptoms don’t improve with inhaled corticosteroids or other long-term asthma medications. It isn’t widely available or suitable for everyone. During the surgery, the doctor heats the airways with an electrode. The heat reduces the bulk of smooth muscles inside the airways, thus dilating it. This makes breathing easier and possibly reduces the chances of asthma attacks.
What are the Lifestyle Changes to Manage Asthma?
While medication is a crucial part of managing asthma, making certain lifestyle modifications can also significantly improve symptom control and reduce the frequency of asthma attacks. Lifestyle changes that can help patients suffering from the condition lead more active and healthier lives are as follows:
- Identify and Avoid Triggers: The first step towards managing the condition is understanding your triggers, such as allergens and pollutants. Once you have identified your triggers, initiate steps to minimize triggers.
- Create an Asthma Action Plan: Discuss your condition with a licensed healthcare professional and develop a personalized action plan. The plan should outline your daily medication regimen, how to recognize symptoms, and when to seek medical assistance.
- Regular physical activity: Physical exercise is essential for overall health and well-being, and patients suffering from asthma may benefit from it as well. It not only improves lung function but also strengthens respiratory muscles.
- Follow a healthy, nutritious diet: A well-balanced diet can help manage the symptoms. On the other hand, avoid food items that trigger your sensitivities or allergies.
- Managing allergies: It is crucial to identify and manage triggers caused by allergens such as pet dander, pollen, dust mites, smoke, and pollutants.
Other lifestyle changes that help manage the symptoms may include staying hydrated, managing stress, getting quality sleep, managing allergies, maintaining a clean environment, monitoring air quality, and scheduling regular check-ups with your healthcare provider. If you are planning to order drugs from Canada to manage your asthma symptoms, buy from a reputable real Canadian pharmacy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, managing asthma effectively involves a comprehensive approach that includes both pharmacological treatments and lifestyle modifications. Medications such as inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, and quick-relief inhalers are pivotal in controlling symptoms and preventing flare-ups. Additionally, lifestyle changes like avoiding triggers, engaging in regular physical activity, and maintaining a healthy diet are crucial for minimizing symptoms and improving overall well-being. Individuals with the condition need to collaborate closely with healthcare professionals to develop a personalized asthma action plan that ensures optimal management.