How to Treat an Asthma Attack

Posted by writer on August 15th, 2009 at 09:30pm

Asthma is a chronic condition that causes your airways to constrict, making it difficult to breathe. Asthma is a serious illness; it’s also very common, and millions of individuals throughout the world suffer from it. And this number is increasing every day.

There’s no cure for asthma, but many individuals with the condition can find relief for their symptoms by trying out different asthma treatment options. It can be controlled to a point where they are able to live quite normally and not suffer from constant asthma attacks.

Asthma Attack Treatment

Preventing an asthma attack is your best line of treatment. Find out the specific triggers for your symptoms and stay away from them. However, there will still be times when an asthma attack is unavoidable. This means that learning to manage your asthma symptoms is vital.

Bear in mind that not all asthma attacks are alike. Sometimes your symptoms can be much worse than at other times. During a severe attack the airways can become so constricted that they prevent your vital organs from receiving the oxygen they need. This qualifies as a medical emergency. A severe asthma attack can even result in death. If you’re one of the millions of people who suffer from asthma, it’s important that you’re aware of the seriousness of this condition.

Pharmaceuticals

Generally, medication is the preferred way to deal with asthma attacks. It enables those who suffer from asthma to manage their condition and stave off an attack that could become more serious. Asthma medications can be taken orally or inhaled in vapor form using a metered dose inhaler.

There are actually two different kinds of medication that can be used. A bronchodilator will help out by keeping spasms in check. Anti-inflammatory treatments work by reducing the inflammation in the airways. If your asthma is particularly severe, your doctor may suggest that you use a combination of both.

These days there is a variety of prescription treatments that you can try:

*Accolade and Singulair, which are leukotriene inhibitors
*long-acting bronchodilators such as Famoterol and Serevent, and
*Theophylline or Aminophylline.

Your doctor will know which one is best for you, and might even have some suggestions for some natural asthma remedies.

Tags: Asthma, asthma treatment

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