Asthma is a disease that affects the breathing passages of the lungs (bronchioles). The muscles of the bronchial walls tighten, and cells in the lungs produce extra mucus further narrowing your airways. This can cause minor wheezing to severe difficulty in breathing. Periodic attacks are caused by an oversensitivity of the lungs and airways, which overreact to certain "triggers" and become inflamed and clogged.
Asthma Treatment
The body is smart enough to work with the proper catalysts – it will never stimulate systems that are already too active, because the living body has its own logic and never does senseless things. All our troubles are caused by lack of understanding and communication with the body. For example, nobody can effortlessly use a hand after it has been immobile for a prolonged period of time, because the body does deem it necessary to support the functioning of an extremity that is not being used.
You really should be working with a doctor to keep it under control. There are quite a few medications that your doctor may use to treat your asthma, and those are described at the bottom of this page. But there are also things you can do on your own to minimize your asthma symptoms—which may in turn minimize your need for medication.
Exercise is an important factor in managing asthma, which may seem counterintuitive if your asthma acts up when you exercise. But regular aerobic exercise ultimately strengthens your lungs so you can breathe more easily. Just remember not to push yourself too hard; start with lower-intensity exercise for shorter periods of time, and work your way up to longer, more difficult workouts as your lungs get stronger. It’s also wise to keep a rescue inhaler nearby in case things get out of control.
Relievers are very good at helping to alleviate symptoms immediately. If you are coughing or wheezing, use a reliever medication to reduce symptoms. However, reliever medications do nothing for the underlying problem of inflammation. Relievers are only a short-term solution to breathing problems and indicate that there is underlying inflammation present that requires a controller medication. Monitor how often you use your reliever. Increased use over time is telling you the asthma is worsening.
The early weeks and months after an attack are important, because a relapse is more likely to happen then. It is important to remember that treatment should be taken regularly, as prescribed, and any worsening of symptoms reported. After a prolonged period without symptoms, it is reasonable to try reducing treatment. It can sometimes be stopped. This should always be done with caution, under medical supervision, remembering that asthma may recur at any time.
If your asthma symptoms are infrequent and mild, you will be given an inhaler containing a medicine called a short-acting beta2-agonist which you should use to relieve the symptoms of asthma. Short-acting beta2-agonists work by relaxing the muscles of your airways and decreasing the amount of mucus. They also prevent the muscles around your airways tightening. Medicines that are used to relieve asthma symptoms are known as reliever medicines.
