Can Asthma be Cured?
We do not know how to cure asthma. But there are things you can do to better control your asthma such as:
- Know the warning signs of an asthma attack or flare-up
- Stay away from things that trigger an attack
- Follow your doctor’s advice
How do Doctors Treat Asthma?
Your doctor works with you to create a treatment plan. It will include ways to treat your symptoms and limit the chances of attacks. Your doctor may adjust your treatment plan until your symptoms are controlled. Your treatment plan will include things you can do such as:
- Avoid your asthma triggers. Use the information in the section What triggers an attack to help you avoid triggers.
- Wash your hands often.
- Avoid being around people who are sick.
- Get help when you are sick.
Your treatment plan may also include medicine. If your doctor prescribes medicine, always take all your asthma medicine like your doctor told you to. Talk to your doctor before you stop any medicines. Plan to get refills on time so you do not run out of medicine. If you do not take your medicine, your asthma could become uncontrolled. This can lead to asthma attacks, which can be very dangerous.
What Types of Medicine might I take for Asthma?
Asthma medicines can include control medicines and short-term medicines.
Control medicines are medicines that you take every day. Control medicines reduce swelling in your airways that makes it harder to breathe. Types of control medicines are:
- Advair
- Asmanex
- Dulera
- Symbicort
Short-term, or quick-relief medicines are another type of medicine to take during an asthma attack. Albuterol is one type of medicine that can help you during an asthma attack. These medicines can be in forms such as tablets, liquids, or inhalers (small medical tools you carry with you).
What are Inhalers?
Inhalers are small tools that get asthma medicine into your lungs. There are two types of inhalers:
- Metered-dose inhalers make a “puff” of medicine that you breathe in through a mouthpiece. You should use a spacer to help make sure you breathe in all the medicine.
- Dry powder inhalers use powder medicine. You take a quick, deep breath to pull the powder into your lungs.