Asthma management:
These days there are a number of medications available in various forms to treat asthma. Most commonly these medications are delivered through ‘inhalers’ (seen in the pic.). Inhalers deliver the medicine directly into your lungs/ chest and have fewer side effects. In India, I have seen many people still using syrups for asthma. These medicines taken in the form of syrups go through the blood. They not only take longer time to work on the lungs but also cause more side effects. Our understanding about asthma keeps changing through advanced research (especially in western world) and it is important for the doctors to keep up to date with newer advances in order to deliver the safest and best treatments to the patients.
These days there are a number of medications available in various forms to treat asthma. Most commonly these medications are delivered through ‘inhalers’ (seen in the pic.). Inhalers deliver the medicine directly into your lungs/ chest and have fewer side effects. In India, I have seen many people still using syrups for asthma. These medicines taken in the form of syrups go through the blood. They not only take longer time to work on the lungs but also cause more side effects. Our understanding about asthma keeps changing through advanced research (especially in western world) and it is important for the doctors to keep up to date with newer advances in order to deliver the safest and best treatments to the patients.
Inhalers are easy to use once you understand how to use it (how to use inhalers will be explained in another post). In younger children, together with the inhaler another device called 'spacer'+/- mask should be used. If not used properly your child may not get the required dose. There are mainly 2 types of medications delivered through these inhaler devices.
Relievers- to be taken whenever the symptoms appear. Reliever opens up narrowed airway.
Preventers- to be taken every day to prevent asthma attacks. This medicine(a steroid) tries to keep the redness and swelling of the airways under control.
In case of mild asthma you only need a reliever (to be taken whenever you are wheezy or breathless). In moderate to severe cases (eg. If you need to use your reliever medication more than 2-3 times a week) you also need a preventer to be taken every day even when you are well.
During some episodes where your symptoms are really bad you may need a short course of steroid tablets and oxygen. Antibiotics if there is bacterial infection. If your child is not well enough to take inhaler another machine called ‘nebuliser’ can be used to dispense asthma medicines to relieve your child’s symptoms. There are other medicines used in severe cases. Most of the kids manage just with relievers and preventers. Doses may differ depending on severity and age of the child. If your child has severe asthma you may need to consult a respiratory specialist/ chest doctor.
How can you help your child’s asthma?
First thing is to understand what it is and what problems can it cause.
Let your child stay away from allergens/ triggers as much as possible.
Administer the medication appropriately.
A note on alternative medicine (Ayurveda, homeopathy etc) for asthma:
I have heard many people saying ‘Ayurveda works best for asthma and other chronic conditions etc.’ I am not an expert in this field and hence can not comment on it. But, I can firmly say that it is only allopathic or English medicine which can save your child if he has a life threatening asthma attack. Allopathic medicines are based on a lot of research and evidence and their benefits to a great extent outweigh the minor side effects when used appropriately. I really feel sorry for some people who just keep trying all sorts of things on earth and fail to understand their child’s actual problem and let their child suffer (even though unintentional). If one can understand ‘what exactly is asthma’ it would not be difficult to keep it under control.
In case of mild asthma you only need a reliever (to be taken whenever you are wheezy or breathless). In moderate to severe cases (eg. If you need to use your reliever medication more than 2-3 times a week) you also need a preventer to be taken every day even when you are well.
During some episodes where your symptoms are really bad you may need a short course of steroid tablets and oxygen. Antibiotics if there is bacterial infection. If your child is not well enough to take inhaler another machine called ‘nebuliser’ can be used to dispense asthma medicines to relieve your child’s symptoms. There are other medicines used in severe cases. Most of the kids manage just with relievers and preventers. Doses may differ depending on severity and age of the child. If your child has severe asthma you may need to consult a respiratory specialist/ chest doctor.
How can you help your child’s asthma?
First thing is to understand what it is and what problems can it cause.
Let your child stay away from allergens/ triggers as much as possible.
Administer the medication appropriately.
A note on alternative medicine (Ayurveda, homeopathy etc) for asthma:
I have heard many people saying ‘Ayurveda works best for asthma and other chronic conditions etc.’ I am not an expert in this field and hence can not comment on it. But, I can firmly say that it is only allopathic or English medicine which can save your child if he has a life threatening asthma attack. Allopathic medicines are based on a lot of research and evidence and their benefits to a great extent outweigh the minor side effects when used appropriately. I really feel sorry for some people who just keep trying all sorts of things on earth and fail to understand their child’s actual problem and let their child suffer (even though unintentional). If one can understand ‘what exactly is asthma’ it would not be difficult to keep it under control.
Really a very useful post.I think regular breathing exercises also will help in preventing asthma.(There are very effective medicines in ayurveda and homeopathy)
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