INTRODUCTION:
The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) has set five goals for asthma treatment:- Control your asthma
- Prevent asthma symptoms
- Decrease the number of asthma attacks
- Help you use quick-relief medicines less often
- Do normal activities without having symptoms
Your asthma treatment should be part of an overall asthma management plan that you develop with your asthma doctor. Your doctor is guided by current asthma treatment guidelines published by the US National Institutes of Health and / or the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA).
Learn More About Asthma Treatment Guidelines:
THREE APPROACHES TO ASTHMA TREATMENT:
There are 3 main approaches to asthma treatment:
- Assessment and monitoring
- Avoidance of asthma triggers
- Asthma medication therapy
Each of these areas is an important component of asthma management and control.
1. Assessing and Monitoring Your Asthma
To manage asthma effectively, you and your doctor need to monitor your health. This can be accomplished by:- Tracking asthma signs and symptoms and asthma attacks
- Monitoring pulmonary function via a peak flow monitor
- Assessing how much asthma is interfering with daily life
- Tracking your response to medication
Help With Monitoring:
2. Avoiding Asthma Triggers:
Asthma is your body's response to something it perceives as a threat to your health. These "threatening" substances or events are known as asthma triggers.Asthma triggers can be pollen, dust mites, pet dander, stress, climate changes, exercise, strong odors, and more. Each person who has asthma can have a different set of triggers.
Learning how to avoid contact with as many of your triggers as possible is the best thing you can do to control your asthma and prevent asthma attacks. You can do many things, from staying indoors on windy, hot days to keeping the home as clean and dust-free as possible to removing the family pet from the bedroom.
When you can change your environment enough that you are not having daily contact with what triggers your asthma symptoms, you'll start to feel much better. You may also need less asthma medicine. (Be sure to always discuss any treatment changes with your doctor first.)
Help for Avoiding Asthma Triggers:
- Understanding Asthma Triggers
- Top 5 Ways to Avoid Asthma Triggers
- Understanding Possible Job-Related Asthma Triggers
3. Asthma Medications:
Even though you may do all that you can to prevent coming into contact with your asthma triggers, you will likely still need some kind of asthma medicine too. So, it is important to understand the different asthma medications and the role each plays in your treatment.Asthma medicines serve one of two purposes: quick relief of symptoms or preventing/controlling asthma symptoms. Both types play an important role in keeping you healthy. If you do not have both types in your current asthma treatment plan, you may want to talk with your doctor or consult an asthma specialist.
Most asthma medications for adults and older children are taken via a handheld device called a metered dose inhaler or a dry powder inhaler. Babies sometimes get asthma medicine through a mask via a nebulizer machine, and there is one oral asthma medicine on the market at present.
Learn About Asthma Medicines:
- Types of Asthma Medicines
- Asthma Medication Guide
- What You Need to Know About Metered Dose Inhalers
- Top 10 Things to Do When You Get a New Prescription
- Inhaled Steroids - the Gold Standard of Asthma Medicine
IMMUNOTHERAPY:
Immunotherapy, commonly referred to as allergy shots, are an important treatment approach used for the allergic type of asthma, which is the most common type. Allergy shots can help reduce asthma symptoms and the need for medicine in people allergic to airborne allergens, such as pollen, pet dander, and dust mites.It is a way of making your body less sensitive to your asthma triggers by exposing you to small amounts over time.
Learn More About Immunotherapy for Asthma Triggers:
- Do Allergy Shots Work?
- Basics of Allergy Shots (From our Allergies Guide)
- "It's Worth a Shot!" Slide Show from the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
NATURAL REMEDIES & ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS:
Asthma medicine is the foundation of an asthma treatment plan. But you may also want to learn about some alternative or "natural" methods of asthma control. More study is needed in this area, but there are some new and emerging therapies for asthma.- Omega Fatty Acids
- Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
- Butterbur, Bromelain, and Boswellia Herbs
- Yoga
- Biofeedback
- Buteyko "Shallow Breathing" Method
Remember—always consult with your doctor before adding any treatments, including those considered "natural," to your asthma management plan.
Learn More About Alternative Asthma Therapies:
- Natural Remedies for Asthma
- ASHMI: An Herbal Treatment for Asthma?
- The Buteyko Method
- Papworth Breathing Method
- Alternative Therapies for Allergic Asthma
YOUR ASTHMA ACTION PLAN:
An Asthma Action Plan is an essential tool in preventing and dealing with asthma attacks. An asthma action plan can help you recognize early warning signs and know what steps to take to keep symptoms from getting worse. But simply having a plan isn't enough — you also need to know how to use this tool to stop asthma attacks before they get out of control.If you don't already have an Asthma Action Plan in place, talk to your doctor. It's a crucial step in controlling your asthma.
Learn More About Using an Asthma Action Plan:
STAY INFORMED ABOUT NEW TREATMENTS:
Asthma is viewed as an important health issue today. So, many research studies are underway to learn how to prevent and control it. Promising new treatments can emerge at any time. Because of that, you'll want to stay on top of new treatment developments.You can keep up with the latest research by checking back often on this site, where we profile research studies regularly.
Learn About Asthma Research Studies:
- Fenzian Treatment System
- Antibiotic for Asthma?
- Bronchial Thermoplasty
- US Research Studies List
- Subscribe to the Asthma News
