Inhaled medications are important in the management of asthma. They can provide both quick relief and long-term control of your symptoms. Inhaled asthma medications deliver medication directly to the lungs, which can help to relax the airways and decrease inflammation.
There are many different types of inhalers available, and the choice of inhaler device depends on many factors, including your age, personal preferences, and the severity of your asthma. It is important to use your inhaled medications correctly to get the full benefits and to reduce the risk of side effects.
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the main inhalers used for keeping your asthma under control for a long time. They work by reducing airway inflammation, which helps prevent worsening of your asthma symptoms and improves lung function. ICS are usually taken every day, even when you don’t have symptoms, to keep your asthma under control. They are not used for fast relief of sudden asthma symptoms.
For fast relief of sudden asthma symptoms, such as wheezing, shortness of breath, or coughing, short-acting beta-agonists (SABAs) are used. These inhalers work quickly to relax the muscles around the airways, making breathing easier.
SABAs are typically only used as needed and should not ****be used as a long-term control medication for your asthma.
Sometimes, ICS by themselves are not enough to manage your asthma, so combination inhalers may be prescribed. These inhalers contain both an ICS and a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) in one single device.
LABAs help keep the airways open for a long time, making ICS work better in preventing asthma symptoms and improving lung function. Combination inhalers offer you the benefits of both ICS and LABAs in a convenient and easy-to-use format.
Inhaled medications have completely changed the way we manage asthma, allowing people with this chronic lung condition to lead active, full lives. By delivering medicine directly to your lungs, inhalers provide effective relief from asthma symptoms with a lower chance of side effects than oral medications.