Explore the different types of inhalers for treatment and prevention of asthma.
What is Asthma?
Asthma causes inflammation in the lung airways, causing breathing difficulties, especially when triggered. People with asthma might wheeze, cough, or have trouble breathing, especially at night. An asthma flare-up can lead to an asthma attack. In serious cases, it can become life-threatening, and a visit to the hospital may be needed.
Causes include family history, eczema, hay fever, allergies, premature birth, low birth weight, maternal smoking, living with a smoker, or exposure to pollution and mold. There are certain triggers like allergens, smoke, exercise, infections, and irritants like cleaning products. Symptoms can range from shortness of breath to chest tightness and fatigue.
Available Treatments
To control asthma, individuals may have to be on a combination of asthma medications. These could be a tablet, or inhaler, or a combination of both. Inhalers are an important factor in the treatment of asthma, providing rapid relief and long-term control.
Types of asthma inhalers
Metered dose inhalers (MDIs) are two different types of traditional or breath actuated. The traditional inhaler delivers a measured dose and requires proper technique between inhaling and actuation. The breath-actuated one releases the medication automatically when the user inhales, ensuring an accurate dose.
Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) come in either single-dose or multi-dose forms. With single-dose inhalers, the medication in powder form is loaded, and the dose within a capsule is punctured in the device before inhaling. The multi-dose inhalers have a container of dry powder in the device and don’t require priming each time.
Combination inhalers are for individuals needing both corticosteroids and a long-acting bronchodilator to help not have to take two inhalers, as well as improved symptom control.
Preventer treatments
A preventer helps prevent an attack and keep it under control. They usually contain corticosteroids for an anti-inflammatory property and a long-acting reliever. These are used as regular medication once or twice daily. They also reduce asthma deaths, protect the lungs from sensitive triggers, and prevent long-term problems.
Inhaled Corticosteroids
These medications help reduce airway inflammation and are generally for long-term use to control symptoms and prevent exacerbations. The steroids fluticasone and budesonide are prescribed as inhalers.
Long acting beta Agonists
These asthma medicines are inhalers that work by relaxing the airway muscles, helping with breathing. LABAs like salmeterol and formoterol are usually prescribed in combination with inhaled corticosteroids for good asthma management.
Leukotriene Modifiers
Oral medicines such as montelukast target a certain type of molecules that play an inflammatory role in asthma. It helps to prevent airway constriction and reduce inflammation.
Reliever Treatments
The reliever medicine helps open the airways to relieve the symptoms during an attack and can work within minutes, and the effects of which can last for hours.
Short Acting Beta Agonists (SABA)
These medicines, like salbutamol or ventolin, help quickly when you’re having trouble breathing. It works by relaxing the muscles in your airways and is only used when needed.
Anticholinergics
These medicines help open up the airways and are used together with another type of medicine for quick relief during asthma attacks. One example of this kind of medicine is called ipratropium bromide.
Other medicines
Other asthma treatments are special medicines for asthma that focus on certain parts of the immune system. These are usually prescribed to people with severe asthma and are given via injections. Allergy shots are another option to help the immune system get used to the concerned allergen.
Consult with a doctor
To treat asthma, it is important to talk to the doctor and have a written asthma action plan (especially for young children) and detailed information about combination inhalers and timely medication attention.
Resources:
