long-term asthma control medications. Long term asthma control medications such as inhaled corticosteroids are usually made up of steroids (fluticasone, budesonide, ciclesonide, etc.).
For people with less severe asthma, there are quick relief medications. Quick relief medications such as albuterol and levalbuterol are bronchodilators. Then there are asthma medications that are triggered by allergies, which are oral and nasal sprays that are made up of antihistamines and decongestants. There are also allergy shots as well which usually contain small dosages of allergens.
What To Try Instead
Since what may work for you will depend on the severity levels of your asthma and other important factors, the first thing to do is to reach out to your doctor if you notice that your asthma medications are no longer working for you.
If using a certain medication no longer benefits you or you don’t like the side effects, see if they can suggest others (ex, taking levalbuterol instead of albuterol). Talk about lowering your dosage with your doctor as well. Maybe the medicine is working but the side effects are too much for you.
See what it would be like to take smaller doses of that medication. It’s important for you to do your own research on the different types of medications you can take, so you’ll always know what to expect and how it may affect your body. Incorporating items that don’t need a doctor’s signature can be helpful as well. Invest in things such as air purifiers and humidifiers.
How To Better Manage Your Asthma And Prevent Triggers
Asthma management and preventing triggers rely heavily on you. A doctor can tell you what to do and what to take, but it’s up to you to actually do the work and stick with it.
The best way to manage your asthma is by first taking your prescribed medicine. The next step is making changes to your lifestyle. If you have a poor diet, unhealthy habits such as smoking and don’t regularly exercise while living with asthma, then it might be time for a change.
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The most important thing to do to manage asthma and prevent triggers is to make sure you’re paying attention to yourself and your asthma. Monitor your breathing with a peak flow meter (ask your doctor how) and stay up to date with vaccinations. Learn your attacks and how to treat them. By acting on the attack quicker, you’ll experience less damage and need less medication to treat your asthma. Remember to be mindful, reach out to your doctor, ask questions and always speak up about your concerns.