Asthma is one of the respiratory disorders of the lungs and has a periodic aggravation. Very quick-acting medicines are needed to control these episodes and provide relief to the patient. These are called rescue medications. This group contains quick, short-acting bronchodilators called short-term beta agonists. Asthma treatments usually consist medications that are normally used to treat acute emphysema but has been found to be useful to control severe asthma symptoms like tightness in chest, wheezing, cough, etc. Oral and intravenous drugs are used for short spells and they have side effects on long, continuous use. The use of emergency medication becomes very rare when long-term medicines work well. It is important to keep a record of the number puffs and times one uses these drugs and inform the doctor. In allergic asthma, one can get relief from the use of desensitizing medicines. One needs to take a shot every two to four weeks. As the sensitivity of the immune system reduces, these shots are lessened. Another specialized treatment is Bronchial thermoplastic. This is no more widely available and is not useful to all. In the course of three or four sessions in the outpatient setting, the insides of the air passage are heated up using an electrode.

Asthma inhalers are classified into different types depending on the mechanisms of their working. The various types include pressurized metered dose inhalers, breath actuated inhalers, inhalers with spacer devices and nebulizers. Each of these have their own merits and demerits. Pressurized metered dose inhalers or SMDI: This type of inhaler was very popular and was unchallenged for about 40 years. Its biggest advantage is its simple operation. It can be used with almost all medicines. It consists of a pressured, inactive, carrier gas that propels the medicine in each puff when the piston is depressed. It is an L-shaped equipment with the longer arm containing the carrier gas and the shorter arm the mouthpiece. The common factors that made this inhaler less popular are listed below. The inhaler should always be well shaken before use. Inhalation and pressing the cylinder were not synchronized. The breath could not be held for long enough after the puff was taken in. Breath-activated inhalers: Some of them are still MDIs but pressing of the canister is eliminated. One inhales hard at the mouth piece to get the medicine powder released and into the lungs. One needs to breathe in fairly hard to get all the medicine released and into the lung.

The exact cause of one of the most common respiratory disorders, asthma, is not known. In most cases, it appears that a family history of allergies and environmental factors play an important role. The immediate cause of asthma is the inflammation of the walls of the bronchi which allows air to the alveoli part of the lungs. As these tube walls get inflamed, the muscles of the wall thicken and narrow the passage inside. This leads to the typical asthma symptoms which include tightness of chest and a high-pitched wheezing sound when breathing and coughing. One may even have a running nose and closed nose too. These symptoms may be seasonal depending on the allergen that one is sensitive to. Asthma treatment The approach to treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms. In chronic cases, the treatment is basically to control the symptoms on day-to-day basis. A good control of the day-to-day symptoms reduces the chances of the periodic exacerbation the disease is prone to have. Inhalers are the cornerstone of the treatment of asthma symptoms like wheezing, tightening of chest etc. Those used to checking the day-to-day symptoms are called preventers. These are nasally administered corticosteroids and are a long-acting beta agonist.

A chronic respiratory disorder, asthma causes narrowing and swelling of the airways in the lungs due to the entry of allergens or irritants in the system. Therefore, the body reacts by producing excessive mucus which further leads to the onset of symptoms like coughing, chest tightness or pain, difficulty breathing and wheezing. The effects of asthma differ from patient to patient. For some, the condition might be mild, whereas for others it could be severe, affecting the quality of life. Currently, doctors categorize asthma signs and symptoms into four categories, i.e., mild intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent and severe persistent. Causes Researchers aren’t sure what exactly prompts the asthmatic condition, however, they believe that it could be a combination of hereditary and environmental factors. Moreover, the triggers for an asthmatic attack are different for everyone. Here are some of the common ones: Allergens like dust, pollen, spores, or pet dander Exercise or physical exertion Cold air Common cold Pollutants and irritants such as chemicals, gas, or smoke Certain types of medications like aspirin, ibuprofen or beta blockers Chronic stress Preservatives and sulfites added to food products GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) Diagnosis The pulmonologist will conduct a physical exam and inquire about your symptoms to rule out the possibility of other respiratory conditions.