But some asthma medicines are in pill form, infusion form, or injectable form. There are four types of asthma inhaler devices that deliver medicine: metered dose inhalers MDI , dry powder inhalers DPI , breath actuated inhalers, and soft mist inhalers. For inhalers to work well, you must use them correctly. Ask your doctor or nurse to watch you use your inhaler to make sure you are using it correctly.
If you use an MDI, it is best to use a spacer or holding chamber with it. This device attaches to your MDI. It turns the medicine into smaller particles that are easier to inhale. These inhalers do not spray medicine out. You then breathe in the medicine through a mask or mouthpiece. Nebulizers may be easier to use than asthma inhalers for some people.
Once the nebulizer is set up and ready to use, simply breathe in and out as normal. A doctor should prescribe a nebulizer and the liquid medicine that goes into it. If prescribed, your insurance company may cover the cost. You can also buy a nebulizer from a pharmacy or durable medical equipment DME company.
Nebulizers purchased online without a prescription may not meet the standards required by the Food and Drug Administration FDA. Talk with your doctor about which nebulizer is best for you or your child. Injectable asthma treatment biologics are shots or infusions given every few weeks.
This is when a needle attached to a tube is injected into a vein in your arm. The medicine then drips from a bag, through the tube, and into your arm so it goes into your bloodstream. Bronchodilators can be short- or long-acting.
If you use short-acting bronchodilators quick-relief medicines more than two days a week, talk with your doctor about your asthma control. You may need to make changes to your treatment plan to better control your asthma. Anti-inflammatories steroidal come in many different forms. They are also called controllers because they help to control or prevent asthma symptoms. Medicines are essential for managing asthma.
Everyone with asthma should have their own up-to-date written asthma action plan with instructions on what to do when symptoms worsen.
Good asthma care also involves treatment for other health conditions that can affect asthma. A healthy lifestyle helps people with asthma stay in control of their symptoms and feel well. The two main types of asthma medicines are relievers and preventers.
Every child, adolescent or adult with asthma needs to have a reliever inhaler e. Most adults and adolescents, and some children, also need to take daily preventer treatment to reduce their risk of flare-ups attacks. Most preventers contain inhaled corticosteroids — a type of medicine that soothes inflammation inside the lungs.
Some other medicines e. Asthma cannot be safely treated without medicines — a severe flare-up attack could be fatal. But you shouldn't need to use your quick-relief inhaler very often if your long-term control medications are working properly. Keep a record of how many puffs you use each week. If you need to use your quick-relief inhaler more often than your doctor recommends, see your doctor.
You probably need to adjust your long-term control medication. Allergy medications may help if your asthma is triggered or worsened by allergies. These include:. This treatment is used for severe asthma that doesn't improve with inhaled corticosteroids or other long-term asthma medications. It isn't widely available nor right for everyone. During bronchial thermoplasty, your doctor heats the insides of the airways in the lungs with an electrode.
The heat reduces the smooth muscle inside the airways. This limits the ability of the airways to tighten, making breathing easier and possibly reducing asthma attacks. The therapy is generally done over three outpatient visits. Your treatment should be flexible and based on changes in your symptoms. Your doctor should ask about your symptoms at each visit.
Based on your signs and symptoms, your doctor can adjust your treatment accordingly. For example, if your asthma is well controlled, your doctor may prescribe less medication.
If your asthma isn't well controlled or is getting worse, your doctor may increase your medication and recommend more-frequent visits.
Work with your doctor to create an asthma action plan that outlines in writing when to take certain medications or when to increase or decrease the dose of your medications based on your symptoms.
Also include a list of your triggers and the steps you need to take to avoid them. Your doctor may also recommend tracking your asthma symptoms or using a peak flow meter on a regular basis to monitor how well your treatment is controlling your asthma.
Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. Although many people with asthma rely on medications to prevent and relieve symptoms, you can do several things on your own to maintain your health and lessen the possibility of asthma attacks.
Taking steps to reduce your exposure to asthma triggers is a key part of asthma control. To reduce your exposure, you should:. Get regular exercise. Having asthma doesn't mean you have to be less active. Treatment can prevent asthma attacks and control symptoms during activity. Regular exercise can strengthen your heart and lungs, which helps relieve asthma symptoms.
If you exercise in cold temperatures, wear a face mask to warm the air you breathe. Certain alternative treatments may help with asthma symptoms. However, keep in mind that these treatments are not a replacement for medical treatment, especially if you have severe asthma. Talk to your doctor before taking any herbs or supplements, as some may interact with the medications you take.
In most cases, more research is needed to see how well alternative remedies work and to measure the extent of possible side effects. Alternative asthma treatments include:. If we combine this information with your PHI, we will treat all of that information as PHI, and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices.
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A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Asthma treatment: 3 steps to better asthma control. Products and services. Asthma treatment: 3 steps to better asthma control Follow this three-step approach to keep asthma symptoms under control and prevent asthma attacks. By Mayo Clinic Staff.
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