Your doctor or nurse will decide the treatment that is most suitable for you based on a number of factors:
- The type of asthma you have
- Severity
- Ability to use different devices
- Other conditions you might have.

Control of asthma is important. This can be achieved by working closely with your doctor or nurse to find the best approach to suit your needs. It is important that you have the knowledge and medicines to deal quickly with a severe attack of breathlessness.

Inhaled medicines are the most efficient and quickest way of getting straight to where the problem is – the lungs. Inhalation means that only small doses of medicines are needed and unwanted side effects are few.

There are several different methods of delivering your medicine:

Inhalers
Most asthma medicines are given through an inhaler. These can be used with or without a spacer device.

Aerosol inhalers (metered dose inhalers or puffers)
Aerosol inhalers are the most commonly used inhaler devices. They are small and handy and are used to deliver many different medicines. They deliver the medicine as a mist or spray through the mouth. While this is straightforward, it is important for people with asthma to learn the correct technique.

Aerosols are used with a spacer device – a large plastic container with a mouthpiece at one end and a piece to attach an inhaler at the other. The spacer device traps the medicine until you breathe it in. This technique is easier for children or people with poor co-ordination than using an inhaler on its own.

Breath-actuated inhalers
These are similar to aerosol inhalers but their design makes them an option for children and people with poor co-ordination. On breathing in, one dose of medicine is automatically given. Examples of these include the Autohaler and Easi-Breathe.

Dry powder inhalers
With these inhalers, asthma medicines are given in the form of a dry powder. Some devices need to be loaded with capsules. Other devices will have the medicines in special discs or within the device itself. One example is the Turbohaler.

Tablets
When asthma gets particularly bad, courses of steroid tablets may be given to get the asthma back under control. Steroid treatment is very effective for an attack of asthma that is not clearing with inhaled medicines. Steroids clear the build-up of swelling and mucus, which cause inflammation, so that the usual medicines will work properly again. Steroids are given in large doses to reduce inflammation within a few hours.

Nebuliser
This is an electric pump that changes liquid medicine into a fine mist that is inhaled through a mask or mouthpiece. This is useful for asthma attacks and for people unable to use other devices. This includes elderly people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Spacer device
This is a see-through plastic container. An inhaler is attached to one end of the spacer device and the person breathes the medicine through the other end. This makes the breathing-in process easier. A spacer is very useful for a children, who have difficulty learning the inhaler technique or for someone who is breathless during an asthma attack.

Back to "Exploring Treatments"

Back to Homepage

Basics | Exploring Treatments | Advanced Resources | News | Contact Us | Disclaimer

	Copyright © 2007. All rights reserved.
	We subscribe to the principles of the Health On the Net Foundation