The treatment of acute asthma attacks

Description

Inhaled bronchodilators (most often)
Theophyllines (in extreme cases)

Bronchospasm is one of the major causes of cough, wheezing and chest tightening. It’s caused when the muscles around the airways constrict, making it difficult for you to breathe.

Bronchodilators provide almost instant relief by relaxing the constricted muscles so that the airways can open. This is why you should always carry a bronchodilator with you.

Brochodilators don’t treat the swelling caused by the underlying airway inflammation, but relieve the broncho constriction and open the brochioli again.

The number of times you use your brochodilator per day or week or month can help you determine your level of asthma control. One of the goals of good asthma management is that you should only use your brochodilator a maximum of once or twice a week. If you are using it more frequently, consult your doctor immediately.

If exercise acts as a trigger of wheezing, the prophylactic use of a bronchodilator may prove protective.

Inhaled bronchodilators

Inhaled medicine goes directly to the airways and, because the medicine is being delivered to the “target” organ, smaller doses are required as opposed to oral medicines which are delivered to the lungs via the blood. Spacer devices make it easier to administer inhaled medicines to children and the elderly if their co-ordination is poor or their breathing weak.

There are two types of inhaled bronchodilators:

short-acting beta2-agonists (chemical names include salbutamol, fenoterol and terbutaline). These provide immediate relief of asthma symptoms.
long-acting beta2-agonists (chemical names include formoterol and salmeterol). These drugs have a duration of 12 hours and can be used for troublesome nights and exercise-induced asthma (EIA). Long-acting beta2-agonists are used in combination with anti-inflammatory medication only when the anti-inflammatory agent provides insufficient asthma control.

Beta2-agonists are drugs that mimic some of the actions of adrenaline, the natural hormone involved in the body’s involuntary response to a perceived threat, known as the “fight or flight” response.

Adrenaline primes the body for physical activity, causing the heart rate to increase and the airways to widen so that more oxygen can be delivered to the muscles. The desired effect of mimicking this response in read more