Asthma treatment can be done with the use of medicines recommended by the pulmonologist, in addition to measures such as practicing physical activities, keeping the house clean and avoiding contact with substances that can trigger asthma attacks, such as dust or pollen, for example.
Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the lungs, caused by genetic changes that, when associated with some environmental factors, can cause narrowing of the airways and trigger symptoms such as intense difficulty breathing, coughing and wheezing. Find out more about asthma.
Asthma treatment should always be guided by a pulmonologist, as it is important to adapt the type of treatment and medications used to each person’s symptoms and type of asthma. But treatment typically includes the use of medications to control asthma over time and other medications to quickly relieve attacks.
Main remedies to treat asthma
Asthma can be controlled with the use of asthma medications, popularly known as “asthma bombs”, such as salbutamol and fenoterol, for example, helping to alleviate the symptoms of asthma attacks.
In addition to the medicines that must be used in an emergency, the doctor must prescribe a medicine that must be inhaled daily to control the inflammation present in the bronchi, preventing asthmatic attacks, such as budesonide, beclomethasone, salmeterol or formoterol.
Typically, medications are used for life, but they are well tolerated and the most recent ones do not alter heart function. See a more complete list of medicines used for asthma.
Asthma medications should be prescribed by a pulmonologist after the diagnosis of asthma can be made by observing your symptoms and carrying out respiratory tests that reveal the lack of air in the lungs.
Make an appointment with your nearest pulmonologist for guidance on asthma treatment:
How to live with asthma
Since there is no cure, people with asthma, in addition to using medications recommended by their doctor, must also take some precautions in their daily lives to keep their symptoms under control, such as:
1. Avoid situations that make asthma worse
Some environmental factors can trigger an asthma attack, such as perfumes, air fresheners, household dust or hair from pets, such as dogs and cats. In some cases, strenuous physical exercise can cause an asthma attack, in which case exercise should be avoided until the asthma has been properly controlled.
2. Keep the house clean
The asthmatic’s home must always be clean and organized, with few surfaces that can accumulate dust and this care must be taken especially in the individual’s bedroom. The house should be cleaned daily with water and a damp cloth, and aromatic candles, incense, air sprays and strong-smelling cleaning products should be avoided.
You should avoid having carpets, curtains, stuffed animals or thick blankets inside your home that cannot be washed weekly. Despite this, there are several practical solutions to have a clean and comfortable home for asthmatics. See some tips at: How to care for a baby with asthma.
3. Get tested regularly
At least once a year, a person with asthma should see a pulmonologist to assess their respiratory capacity and adjust the dose of the medication.
Taking an allergy test is very useful for asthma sufferers because it makes it easier to identify the main precautions that asthmatics should take. After identifying the allergens, the doctor may recommend the use of “asthma vaccines”, which consists of a treatment to desensitize the person so that they can no longer have certain allergies, making asthma control easier.
Find out more about tests to diagnose asthma.
4. Do physical exercise
To improve breathing, it is recommended to exercise regularly. However, physical activity should only be started when the disease is well controlled with the use of medication and there is a doctor’s recommendation.
To start, you should choose walking or cycling because these are aerobic exercises that improve lung function.
It is recommended to use the medicine to control asthma before starting physical activity and at the end of the activity. If you feel short of breath during the exercises, you should reduce the intensity to see if your breathing improves or use the ‘asthma bomb’ and rest for 5 minutes until your breathing is controlled, and then return to the activity.
5. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet
Is asthma curable?
Asthma has no cure, however, treatment with medication and daily care help control the disease, improve quality of life and prevent asthma attacks.
Signs of asthma improvement
Signs of asthma improvement appear a few weeks after starting treatment and mainly include a reduction in the frequency of asthma attacks. Furthermore, it is also possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment through the use of a small device, called Peak Flow, which checks the respiratory flow value, and when it increases it is because the treatment is having an effect.
Signs of worsening asthma
Signs of worsening asthma appear when treatment is not being carried out properly or if you are exposed to allergens, such as dust or animal dander, and include symptoms characteristic of an asthma attack such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, dry cough.
