Asthma is a condition in which a person has trouble breathing properly. This is usually due to swelling inside a person's airways, excess mucus production clogging the airways, or abnormal tightening of the muscles around the airways. When any of these things occur, air cannot flow through the airways correctly and this may trigger an asthma attack. There has not yet been a cure found for asthma, but there are medications that can be used to treat it. These are the different ways that asthma medications can be administered.
Inhalers
Inhalers are devices that contain medications to treat asthma which are inhaled directly into the lungs. One type of inhaler that is commonly used to treat asthma is a metered dose inhaler. This device has asthma medication and a propellant inside. The propellant sprays the medication into the lungs with each pump of the device. This inhaler has a small meter on it that measures each time a dose has been inhaled to help the patient take the proper dosage and know when the device is empty.
Nebulizers
Another way of administering asthma medication is by using a nebulizer. A nebulizer is a mask or a mouthpiece that is normally used when an asthma patient needs to inhale a liquid asthma medication. The nebulizer is attached to a machine that turns the liquid medication into a mist form. The patient then inhales the mist by wearing the mask or holding the mouthpiece in their mouth until all the medication has been inhaled. The patient needs only to breathe as they normally do to inhale the medication.
Shots or Infusions
Some patients need to have their asthma medication administered by injection. When this is done the medication is given as a shot or by infusion. Shots may be given in a physician's office or taken at home. Infusions are given in a medical office intravenously in which the medication is in a bag and drips down a tube that goes directly into the patient's bloodstream. The frequency of these types of asthma treatments depends on how severe the patient's condition is and which medication they need. Shots and infusions are sometimes used for patients who have not been able to manage their asthma symptoms well by using inhalers or nebulizers.
Some patients may suffer from an occasional asthma attack even if they are using the above-mentioned types of treatment as prescribed. Therefore, it is not uncommon for these patients to have a short term treatment method on hand to use when these attacks occur. This may include corticosteroids that are either inhaled or taken orally.
Keep these tips in mind when looking for asthma treatment options near you.
