 Treating
Asthma
Can Asthma be cured
Asthma medications
How are asthma medications taken
Monitoring Asthma
Exercising and Being Active
Avoiding triggers
Can asthma be cured?
Asthma cannot be cured but it can be controlled. Getting
your asthma under control means that you are able to do your
daily activities and lead a normal life without having asthma
symptoms. The following sections contain information about
managing asthma.
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Asthma Medications
The best way of controlling your asthma is through medications.
These are usually taken by breathing in the medication so
it goes straight into the lungs. It is convenient to consider
medication in three major groups; "Relievers”,
“Preventers” & “Symptom Controllers”.
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Relievers (quick acting) – blue/grey coloured
medications
Relievers help to open up your airways by relaxing the tightened
muscles surrounding your airways. These medicines may provide
relief almost straight away and are the "First
Aid" treatment of asthma symptoms. They should stop
your symptoms for 4 to 6 hours. You should carry this medication
with you at all times.
- Airomir
- Asmol
- Bricanyl
- Ventolin
- Epaq
Symptom Controllers – mostly green coloured
medications
These medications have a delayed onset of action, and are
not to be used during acute attacks. They help to keep the
airways open for up to 12 hours, and are generally prescribed
in conjunction with appropriate preventer medications.
Preventers – generally autumn coloured
Preventer medications make your airways less sensitive and
help to keep you well. They reduce the swelling and inflammation
inside the airways and decrease the production of mucus. Preventers
often take several weeks to make you feel a lot better.
- Intal
- Intal forte
- Tilade
- QVAR
- Flixotide
- Pulmicort
- Most of these medications are inhaled corticosteroids.
- Due to the side effects inhaled corticosteroids may cause
eg sore throat, hoarse voice and oral thrush it is important
to rinse, gargle and spit after using these medications.
If you are using a puffer, a spacer
can greatly reduce the chance of developing side effects.
- Intal, Intal-forte and Tilade are non-steroidal medications
and are sometimes also used to help prevent exercise-induced
asthma.
- Prednisolone, Prednisone and Solone are oral corticosteroids
which are sometimes ordered by a doctor during an acute
attack for short periods only.
- Singular is a preventative medication that is taken daily
in tablet form. Your doctor will be able to tell you if
this new medication is suitable for you.
- You may need to take preventers every day, or only during
Winter or Spring - check with your doctor. Do not stop taking
your Preventer unless your doctor advises you to. Phone,
FAX or E-mail The Asthma Foundation of WA to find information
about current medications.
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Combination Medications
Combination medications are a new group of medications that
combine a preventer medication and a symptoms controller medication
in the one device. Currently there are two types available:
- Seretide (purple coloured medication) contains Flixotide
as the preventer and Serevent as the symptom controller
- Symbicort (red and white coloured medication) contains
Pulmicort as the preventer and Oxis as the symptom controller.
How are medications taken?
Reliever, Preventer, Symptom Controller and Combination medications
are either inhaled or taken orally. How the medication is
taken will depend on what type of medication is prescribed
by the doctor. Inhalation is generally the most common and
best delivery method because:
- the medication gets to where it is needed and starts
working straight away
- only a small dose is needed for it to work
- there are fewer side effects
Inhaled delivery devices include:
- aerosol inhalers e.g. puffers (press and breathe), autohalers
(breath activated)
- dry powder inhalers e.g. turbuhaler, accuhaler, aerolizer
- liquids/solutions used in nebulisers
All inhalers need to be used in the correct way so that the
medication gets to where it is needed and has the best effect.
Many people have trouble using a puffer ("press and breathe"
inhaler) correctly and the medication tends to land in the
back of the throat rather than getting down into the lungs.
Using a spacer device is recommended as a good way to eliminate
this problem.
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What is a spacer device?
A spacer is a special device that looks like a clear plastic
football or tube. Spacers act as a reservoir for the medication
from the puffer ("press and breathe" inhaler).
Spacers:
- reduce the amount of medication deposited in the throat
and increase the amount of medication reaching the lungs
- minimise the side effects which may occur when using inhaled
steroids
- do not require the coordinated action of puffers ("press
and breathe" inhalers), hence making them easier to
use
- are quicker and easier to use than nebulisers
- are inexpensive, durable and easy to clean
Contact The Asthma Foundation
of WA to find out more about the different medication devices
and how they are used.
Monitoring asthma – Peak Flow Meters
You can check on your asthma by blowing into a peak flow
meter (PFM). It will tell you whether your airways are wide
or narrow. Children under the age of 7 years may find this
hard to do so parents can instead use a diary to record and
monitor symptoms of their child’s asthma. Not everyone
with asthma will use a peak flow meter. Generally they are
used for people who require asthma medications at least once
a day. It is best if an individual uses the same peak flow
meter for each measurement as readings may vary slightly between
different peak flow meters.
PFM are generally used in conjunction with an "Asthma
Action Plan" set out by the doctor. Peak Flow Meters,
Action Plans and diary cards are available from The Asthma Foundation
of WA or your pharmacist. Phone, FAX
or E-mail the Asthma Foundation of WA to find out more about
Peak Flow Meters and how to use them. Ask for the following
brochure or send a stamped self addressed envelope with an order
form: "Asthma What’s Your Score?”
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Exercising or being active
Exercise is very important for your health and for developing
strong breathing muscles. If you are fit and healthy you will
cope better if you have an asthma attack. If exercise triggers
your asthma ask your doctor how to control this. Phone,
FAX or E-mail the Asthma Foundation of WA to find out
about the benefits of exercise and how to control your asthma
when exercising. Ask for one or more of the following brochures
or send a stamped self addressed envelope with an order form:
- Asthma and Exercise
- Being Active with Asthma
- Air Traffic Control - Information for Coaches
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Avoiding Triggers
It is important to try to avoid the triggers that you react
to. Sometimes these triggers cannot be avoided e.g. a change
in the season or getting a cold. You should ask your doctor
for a plan to tell you what to do in these situations. Exercise,
of course, should not be avoided. The Asthma Foundation of
WA have a range of brochures which deal specifically with
certain triggers and how best to avoid them. Check out our
brochures or contact
the Asthma Foundation of WA for more information.
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