Asthma Treatment

Perhaps the most important step in controlling asthma is establishing a partnership between doctor and patient (whether child or adult) to create a specific, customized plan for proactively monitoring and managing symptoms. It is essential to be certain that someone who has asthma understands (and takes an active part in deciding) what needs to be accomplished, including reducing exposure to allergens, taking medical tests to assess the severity of symptoms, and possibly using medications. The treatment plan should be written down, consulted at every visit, and adjusted according to changes in symptoms.

The most effective treatment for asthma is identifying triggers, such as pets or aspirin, and limiting or eliminating exposure to them. If trigger avoidance is insufficient, medical treatment is available. Desensitization has been suggested as a possible cure. Additionally, some trial subjects were able to remove their symptoms by retraining their breathing habits with the Buteyko method.

Other forms of treatment include relief medication, prevention medication, long-acting β2-agonists, and emergency treatment.

The specific medical treatment recommended to patients with asthma depends on the severity of their illness and the frequency of their symptoms. Specific treatments for asthma are broadly classified as relievers, preventers and emergency treatment.

The Expert Panel Report 2: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma (EPR-2) of the U.S. National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, and the British Guideline on the Management of Asthma are broadly used and supported by many doctors.

The Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma of the U.S. National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, released in 2007, presented a focused 6-step approach to asthma management, based on four principles that act as a blueprint to guide individualized treatment:

• Frequent and regular assessment of symptoms
• Patient education
• Control of environmental triggers
• Systematic evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of medications.

The 2007 revised NAEPP guidelines differ from the earlier version in an increased focus on asthma control and individualized treatment, reorganizing the goals of treatment to differentiate risk from impairment. They specify defined measures that should prompt a decision to "step up" or "step down" the intensity of treatment, and they emphasize education and integrated decision-making to encourage patient self-management.

Bronchodilators are recommended for short-term relief in all patients. For those who experience occasional attacks, no other medication is needed. For those with mild persistent disease (more than two attacks a week), low-dose inhaled glucocorticoids or alternatively, an oral leukotriene modifier, a mast-cell stabilizer, or theophylline may be administered. For those who suffer daily attacks, a higher dose of glucocorticoid in conjunction with a long-acting inhaled β-2 agonist may be prescribed; alternatively, a leukotriene modifier or theophylline may substitute for the β-2 agonist. In severe asthma, oral glucocorticoids may be added to these treatments during severe attacks.

For an alternative view of treatment go back to the Asthma homepage, click on the video link and review the Buteyko Breathing method. This has proven to be effective for relief, and sometimes eradication, of asthma and other breathing problems.