Inhaled Short-acting Beta-adrenergic and Beta2-adrenergic Agonists

Inhaled short-acting beta-adrenergic and beta2-adrenergic agonists are usually the best asthma medications for immediately relieving asthma attacks. They may be taken:

• During an acute asthma attack.
• When you first begin to feel a shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness.
• Before you feel any symptoms or signs of an asthma episode but your breathing is weaker.

These bronchodilators begin their work within minutes and can last anywhere from two to six hours. Brand names include:

• Albuterol
• Bitolterol
• Levalbuterol
• Pirbuterol

Oral and Intravenous Corticosteroids

Oral and intravenous corticosteroids may be taken to treat acute asthma attacks. They can take a few hours up to a few days to be fully effective. There are serious side effects related to the long-term use of oral and intravenous corticosteroids, which may include osteoporosis (loss of bone mineral), decreased resistance to infection, thinning of the skin, high blood pressure, cataracts, and muscle weakness. Brand names include:

• Prednisone
• Prednisolone
• Methylprednisolone
• Hydrocortisone

Anticholinergic Asthma Medications

Anticholinergic asthma medications are normally used to treat acute asthma attacks, in combination with short acting beta-adrenergic and beta2-adrenergic agonists. These medications are designed to further dilate (widen) your airways after you’ve been given a short acting beta-adrenergic or Beta2-adrenergic agonist. When used alone anticholinergic asthma medications are only marginally effective. Anticholinergic asthma medications are used mainly by doctors in emergency departments. Brand names include:

• Ipratropium

Quick-Relief Asthma Medications was originally posted on: Asthma Treatment and Management Information - Azmacare.com

Related Articles:

1. Long-term Controller Asthma Medications
2. Asthma – What is it?
3. Asthma Attack Action Plan – Are you prepared?

Peak Flow Meters Used to Help Manage Asthma Symptoms

You can compare your “personal best” against your peak flow at any other time to get an objective idea of how well you’re breathing.

Unfortunately, the result of a peak flow measurement is very dependent on your efforts, so try to use the same effort every time.

A single peak flow measurement, without knowing what your “personal best” is, is not very useful.

Try to use peak flow values together with your other symptoms to evaluate the severity of your attack.

• Peak flow meters measure how well you can get air out of your lungs.
• Peak flow meters monitor how effectively your long term controller asthma medications and your quick relief asthma medications are working.
• Peak flow at any given time helps you identify your asthma triggers.
• Peak flow helps you decide when to seek emergency treatment.
• A drop in your peak flow can be an early and effective warning sign of an asthma attack.
• Peak flow readings can help you measure how well you’re responding to your asthma treatments.

Peak Flow Zones

Your “personal best” peak flow measurement can be used to determine your asthma action or treatment zones.

• Green: 80-100% of your “personal best” peak flow. Just keep doing what you’re doing.
• Yellow: 50-80% of your “personal best” peak flow. Caution – be careful. Use your quick relief medication as needed to try improve your peak flow or relieve whatever symptoms you might be experiencing. Remember – keep monitoring your peak flow after your treatments.
• Red: Less than 50% of your “personal best” peak flow. Danger – Asthma Attack Action Plan time. Use your quick relief asthma medication and seek immediate medical attention.

Peak flow meters are one of your best weapons in your fight to control your asthma, so use yours often!

Buy Peak Flow Meters:

Peak Flow Meters – Essential Asthma Management Tools was originally posted on: Asthma Treatment and Management Information - Azmacare.com

Related Articles:

1. Asthma Attack Action Plan – Are you prepared?
2. Acute Asthma Episode – Common Signs
3. Asthma Medication Delivery Systems

If You're Having an Acute Asthma Episode, Contact Your Doctor Immediately

Common signs of an acute asthma episode are:

• Your coughing and/or wheezing will not stop.
• You’re breathing very fast but can’t catch your breath(Tachypnea).
• Your chest feels tight.
• You’re feeling tired AND out of breath.
• You’re agitated and anxious.
• Your pulse rate has increased.
• You’ve got allergy-like symptoms, including but not limited to a runny nose, watery or itchy eyes, scratchy throat.
• Coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath while you’re exercising or immediately afterward.
• You feel chest or abdominal pain.

Common signs and symptoms of increasing respiratory distress and acute breathing difficulty can include:

• Your inability to complete a sentence.
• You’re experiencing retractions (increased use of chest, neck, or abdominal muscles).
• You need to sit or lean forward in order breathe easier.

Make sure that you have an Asthma Action Plan in place so that you can successfully and efficiently regain control and normalize your breathing. Read Asthma Attack Action Plan – Are you prepared? as a primer if you haven’t set one up for yourself yet.

Also, be sure to read Asthma Triggers – Do you know what yours are?, Asthma Triggers – Is Your Home Causing Your Asthma?, Asthma and Outdoor Air Pollution in Southern California and Indoor Asthma Triggers – Asthma Proof Your Home if you’re unclear about your triggers or what you can do to help yourself.

The absolute best way to get through an acute asthma episode is to never have to deal with one.

There is no reason why you can’t fully and confidently participate in the life of your choice. Camp, hike, bike, jog, ski, join sports leagues, take exercise classes. Just be sure you have planned ahead – just in case.

Acute Asthma Episode – Common Signs was originally posted on: Asthma Treatment and Management Information - Azmacare.com

Related Articles:

1. Asthma Attack Action Plan – Are you prepared?
2. Peak Flow Meters – Essential Asthma Management Tools
3. Quick-Relief Asthma Medications

Write Your Own Asthma Action Plan

Talk to your doctor and your health care providers right away. Ask them to be clear about what actions they recommend you take and what they suggest you do in a worst case scenario. Ask them questions if you’re unclear about what they’re telling you to do. Make sure you’re satisfied with their answers!

Do not stop there.

Talk to family, friends and even co-workers about what steps they can help you with, if needed. Your life and well being could depend on it.

Here are some steps generally included in many recommended action plans:

1. Take a quick relief asthma medication immediately!
2. Remain calm.
3. Sit in a comfortable position and lean forward to help yourself breathe.
4. Breathe slowly and deeply.
5. Immediately call your health care provider or seek emergency care if:
   • Your symptoms haven’t improved within 20-30 minutes of taking your quick relief asthma medication.
   • Your peak flow measurement is in the red zone.
   • You’re having trouble walking and talking because of shortness of breath.
   • You’re struggling to breathe.
   • Your fingernails or lips are turning blue.
6. Do the best you can to measure your peak flow before and after treatment.

Treatment, education and teamwork can greatly improve your quality of life and improve your chances for the successful and effective soothing of your asthma symptoms.

Prepare and practice your action plan until you know exactly what to do and exactly who to contact in a worst case scenario without hesitation or second thought. Your life depends on it.

Asthma Attack Action Plan – Are you prepared? was originally posted on: Asthma Treatment and Management Information - Azmacare.com

Related Articles:

1. Peak Flow Meters – Essential Asthma Management Tools
2. Acute Asthma Episode – Common Signs
3. Asthma Help – When You Need to Talk with Your Doctor

• You suffer from acute asthma symptoms for the first time.
• Your asthma symptoms fail to respond to your usual treatment, or if your asthma attack (episode) is severe.
• Your sputum (mucus) becomes discolored, particularly green, yellow, or bloody. This may be a sign of a bacterial infection.
• You or your family members and caregivers have not been educated about asthma treatments, or if the medication you require is not immediately available to you.
• You want to learn exactly what to do when an asthma attack (episode) begins. You can often handle acute asthma attacks (episodes) without professional help, once you’ve gotten the proper training, medication and confidence.
• You begin to use your asthma medication more often than usual. This is normally a sign that your asthma is worsening.
• You suffer from allergy induced asthma, and you want to discuss allergy shots as part of your asthma treatment.

Asthma Help – When You Need to Talk with Your Doctor was originally posted on: Asthma Treatment and Management Information - Azmacare.com

Related Articles:

1. Acute Asthma Episode – Common Signs
2. Peak Flow Meters – Essential Asthma Management Tools
3. Xolair (Omalizumab) – Allergic Asthma Medication