Treatment

The most important part of asthma control is to prevent airways from becoming inflamed.

Inhalers

This is usually treated with once-daily or twice-daily use of a brown or orange steroid inhaler. The doses are extremely small and safe.

The other usual inhaler is a blue reliever inhaler. It is important that if this is needed more than three times a week, or at least one night a week, that a regular treatment inhaler is also used.

Some patients are prescribed a combination inhaler containing a long-acting reliever plus a treatment steroid. This is taken twice daily only. There is also a tablet that is used once daily for some patients who may have both rhinitis and asthma, or exercise-induced asthma, and is used in addition to inhalers.

Everyone with asthma should be reassessed at least every six months by their GP or specialist asthma nurse as doses may need adjusting. Most patients should also have a self–management plan agreed with their doctor or nurse.

article continues below...

Share this article

Send this article to a friend »