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Home > Your child's Asthma > Asthma Reference Guide
Asthma Reference Guide
1. Asthma is a disease
Asthma is a chronic disease that presently cannot be cured but can be adequately treated.
2. Two main components of asthma
Inflammation, the swelling and irritation of the airways, and bronchoconstriction, the tightening of the muscles surrounding the airways. Inflammation and broncho constriction cause narrowing of the airways, which may result in wheezing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath.
3. Presence of airway inflammation
Airway inflammation is always present — even when you are not having symptoms. There is increasing evidence that, if left untreated, inflammation may cause irreversible damage to your airways.
4. Asthma triggers
People with asthma have inflamed airways that are sensitive to asthma triggers that may not bother other people. Asthma triggers often vary from person to person. Some of the most common triggers include allergens like animal dander and pollen, irritants, respiratory infections, and exercise.
5. Asthma attacks
When you are having asthma symptoms or an asthma attack, the muscles around the airways tighten (constriction). Also, the lining of the airways swells, becomes irritated (inflammation), and produces more mucus. Constriction and inflammation make it difficult (and sometimes impossible) to breathe.
6. Goals of asthma treatment
Some of the goals of asthma treatment include:
Preventing chronic asthma symptoms and attacks day and night
Maintaining normal activity levels, including exercise and other activities
Having normal or near-normal lung function
Eliminating emergency room visits due to asthma
7. Quick-relief inhalers (fast-acting or rescue inhalers)
Quick-relief inhalers like albuterol work quickly to open the airways by relaxing the muscles around the airways. They do not treat the underlying inflammation or provide long-term protection against worsening asthma. People who need to use their quick-relief inhalers more than two times per week may not be as well controlled as they could be and should talk to their healthcare professional about long-term preventative medications to help prevent asthma symptoms from occurring in the first place.
8. Inhaled corticosteroids (inhaled steroids)
Inhaled steroids are used to prevent symptoms and control mild, moderate, and severe persistent asthma. Inhaled steroids are usually well tolerated (when taken at recommended doses) because the medicine goes right to your lungs where you need it. This reduces the amount of medicine you need and the chance of side effects.
9. Oral steroids
Oral steroids come in pill or liquid form and are used for short periods to quickly bring asthma under control. They are also used longer term to control the most severe asthma. Much larger doses are used, and the medicine is distributed throughout the body, not just the lungs. This may cause more side effects.
10. Effectively managing asthma
Effectively managing your asthma depends, in part, on staying informed. You can learn to manage your asthma with the help of your healthcare professional and live a normal, healthy life if you have the facts and follow your daily treatment plan. It is important to continually update your healthcare professional on your progress with controlling your asthma.
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