Asthma is a disease that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow. It leads to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. Black Americans suffer greatly from Asthma1 . The following quick facts2 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) shows how much Black Americans suffer:
- The rates of hospitalizations and deaths due to asthma are both three times higher among African Americans than among whites.
- Compared to white children, asthma prevalence is higher in children who are Puerto Rican (2.4 times), African American (1.6 times), and American Indian/Alaska Native (1.3 times).
- The percentage of people with asthma taking daily medicine to control asthma is lower among Hispanics (23.2%) and African Americans (25.1%) than among Whites (35.1%).
Jay Harold has written a post, “Black Americans & Asthma: We suffer more than most” that talks about common asthma triggers, asthma attacks, and some treatments options. This post will speak about drug medication treatment options.
Know How to Use Your Asthma Inhaler
Jay Harold has found the Centers for Disease Control Guidelines3 on how to use a Metered dose Asthma Inhaler (MDI) with Video to be very useful. Watch this short video below to learn to correctly use an MDI.
Asthma – quick-relief drugs
Asthma quick-relief medicines4 work fast to control asthma symptoms. You take them when you are coughing, wheezing, having trouble breathing, or having an asthma attack. They are also called rescue drugs.
These medicines are called “bronchodilators” because they open (dilate) and help relax the muscles of your airways (bronchi).
You and your doctor can make a plan for the quick-relief drugs that work for you. This plan will include when you should take them and how much you should take.
Plan ahead. Make sure you do not run out. Take enough with you when you travel.
Short-acting Beta-agonists
Short-acting beta-agonists are the most common quick-relief drugs for treating asthma attacks.
They can be used just before exercising to help prevent asthma symptoms caused by exercise. They work by relaxing the muscles of your airways, and this lets you breathe better during an attack.
Tell your doctor if you are using quick-relief medicines twice a week or more to control your asthma symptoms. Your asthma may not be under control, and your doctor may need to change your dose of daily control drugs.
Some Quick-relief asthma medicines include:
- Albuterol (ProAir HFA, Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA)
- Levalbuterol (Xopenex HFA)
- Metaproterenol
- Terbutaline
Quick-relief asthma medicines may cause these side effects:
- Anxiety.
- Tremor (your hand or another part of your body may shake).
- Restlessness.
- Headache.
- Fast and irregular heartbeats. Call your doctor right away if you have this side effect.
Oral Steroids
Your doctor might prescribe oral steroids when you have an asthma attack that is not going away. These are medicines that you take by mouth as pills, capsules, or liquids.
Short-acting Beta-agonists give quick relief from an asthma attack.
Oral steroids are not quick-relief medicines but are often given for 7 to 14 days when your symptoms flare-up.
Oral steroids include:
- Prednisone
- Prednisolone
- Methylprednisolone
Asthma – control drugs
Control medicines5 for asthma are drugs you take to control your asthma symptoms. You must take them every day for them to work. You and your doctor can make a plan for the medicines that work for you. This plan will include when you should take them and how much you should take.
You may need to take these medicines for at least a month before you start to feel better.
Take the medicines even when you feel OK. Take enough with you when you travel. Plan ahead. Make sure you do not run out.
Inhaled Corticosteroids
Inhaled corticosteroids prevent your airways from swelling in order to help keep your asthma symptoms away.
Inhaled steroids are used with a metered dose inhaler (MDI) and spacer. Or they may be used with a dry powder inhaler.
You should use an inhaled steroid every day, even if you do not have symptoms.
After you use it, rinse your mouth with water, gargle, and spit it out.
If your child cannot use an inhaler, your doctor will give you a drug to use with a nebulizer. This machine turns liquid medicine into a spray so your child can breathe the medicine in.
Long-acting Beta-agonist Inhalers
These drugs relax the muscles of your airways to help keep your asthma symptoms away.
The percentage of people with asthma taking daily medicine to control asthma is lower among African Americans (25.1%) than among Whites (35.1%).
Usually, you use these medicines only when you are using an inhaled steroid drug, and you still have symptoms. DO NOT take these long-acting medicines alone.
Use this medicine every day, even if you do not have symptoms. An example of a long-acting beta agonist is Advair6 .
Combination Therapy
Your doctor may ask you to take both a steroid drug and a long-acting beta-agonist drug.
It may be easier to use an inhaler that has both drugs in them.
Leukotriene Modifiers
These medicines are used to prevent asthma symptoms. They come in tablet or pill form and can be used together with a steroid inhaler. One example of a leukotriene modifier is Montelukast7 (Singulair).
Cromolyn
Cromolyn is a medicine that may prevent asthma symptoms. It can be used in a nebulizer, so it may be easy for young children to take.
Over 17 million American adults had asthma in 2014. The prevention and management of asthma are a major health concern. Please take advantage of the resources available to you.
Enjoyed this post? Share it and read more here. Jay Harold has put together a Resource page that you may find useful when trying to improve your health and wealth.
Jay Harold is always looking out for your health and wealth. Please take this advice of Muhammad Ali and give back to others. “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” ~ Muhammad Ali
Bibliography
- https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000141.htm
- https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-pro/resources/lung/naci/discover/disparities.htm
- http://www.healthtipsever.com/cdc-gov-guidelines-to-use-asthma-inhaler-with-video-infographic/
- https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000008.htm
- https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000005.htm
- https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a699063.html
- https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a600014.html
