Asthma is a condition that
happens when your airways become
narrow and swollen
and produce excess mucus.
This can make it hard for you
to breathe
and may cause coughing,
wheezing, and shortness
of breath.
While theres no cure for asthma,
your symptoms can be controlled
using both quick-relief
and long-term control
medications.
Asthma medications are usually
taken by breathing them in using
an inhaler or nebulizer.
This allows the medicine to go
directly into your lungs.
When you have a flare-up,
quick-relief medicines are taken
at the first sign of symptoms
and can ease asthma symptoms
within minutes.
These types of drugs
work by quickly relaxing
the tightened muscles
around the passageways
to your lungs.
This allows more air to flow
through them and improves
your breathing.
They also help loosen and remove
mucus from your lungs.
While quick-relief medicines can
control your asthma symptoms,
you may still need to take
a preventative, long-term
control medication to reduce
the chronic inflammation that
caused your symptoms.
One effective option is a group
of anti-inflammatory drugs
called inhaled corticosteroids.
When taken daily,
these medications reduce
inflammation and swelling
in your airways.
This helps prevent the chain
reaction that causes asthma
symptoms, so youre less likely
to have an attack.
