Methods for treating asthma
Today, a wide variety of asthma medications and treatments are used:
- anti-inflammatory basic therapy, which is often referred to as inhalation;
- emergency aid in case of an attack (aerosol is used, if the attack is severe, in some cases hospitalization is necessary).
There are also strictly individual methods of treatment:
- use of immunostimulants of bacterial origin;
- application of allergen-specific immunotherapy;
- non-pharmacological methods;
- non-traditional methods (breathing exercises, etc.).
When deciding which medications to take, it is important to remember that their prescription is strictly individual and can only be done by the supervising physician after conducting the examination.
The main drugs for treatment
All drugs for treatment are divided into two large groups: Preventive
- bronchodilators (sulfur, formoterol);
- hormones for inhalations (beclomethasone, fluticasone, budesonide);
- combined and long-acting hormones, bronchodilators, means for inhalation (fliksotid, beclomethasone, formoterol and others);
- Membrane strengtheners for immune cells (tileed, intal).
Anti-seizure remedies
- for relief of muscle spasms (most often these are inhalants, atrovent is used);
- fast bronchodilators (berotek, ventolin, salamol, astalin).
Today, not only drugs are used to treat asthmahormonal drugs, but also non-hormonal. One of the popular ones is Intal (sodium cromoglycate). In pharmacies, this drug can be sold under other names. Intal helps prevent allergic inflammation in the bronchial walls, removes it at the very beginning of the process. Many consider this drug to be the best prevention, which helps to avoid an attack. Intal is sold in capsules that are placed in an aerosol, the so-called spinhaler, where the capsule is punctured, and the patient gets the opportunity to inhale the powder. Only a doctor can prescribe the drug, when using it, you must follow some features:
- before taking intala, you need to inhale some bronchodilator drug so that the drug can get into the fully opened bronchi;
- you have to make two or three sighs;
- when inhaled, the head should be thrown back;
- if after the reception of the agent in the mouth remains a taste of powder, then the mouth must be rinsed;
- Dosage may be prescribed only by a doctor!
- intall usually does not work immediately, it should take about a week to show its effect;
- at the onset of an exacerbation on the background of the use of intala, it is necessary to stop the reception immediately and contact the observing doctor.
Today you can buy not only capsules, but alsoready-to-use aerosol, which is very convenient. In addition to intal, today such drugs as cropos, tayled, that is, the so-called cromones, are offered. For aspirin asthma, it is recommended to take antileukotrienes, for chronic rhinitis - teopec, teotard and others. All these drugs are auxiliary, they are used as an addition to the main therapy. Inhalation hormones Hormonal drugs that are prescribed for the treatment of bronchial asthma include such names as pulmicort, tayled, ingacort, berotek, aldecin, budesonite, becotide, beclazone. Such drugs are also called symptomatic, they begin to act when a severe attack occurs, a few minutes after administration. Hormonal drugs are aimed at treating asthma in everyday life, preventing the development of attacks. The use of inhalations allows you to relieve attacks almost immediately after their onset, tablets and others are used according to the scheme prescribed by the doctor. They help reduce swelling of the bronchi, relieve inflammation, and significantly reduce sensitivity to allergens. Specialists usually prescribe corticosteroids, antileukotrienes, and bronchodilators for the treatment of asthma. In certain cases, the appointment of biological drugs is permissible, but this is very rare. Most often, inhalation is prescribed.
Specific immunotherapy
When asked what remedies to take fortreatment of asthma, there is often a need for control therapy. This is a specific hyposensitized treatment, which is required mainly for children. This treatment is especially effective for asthma and rhinitis, when the patient has an allergic reaction to various plants. In this case, the aerosol may not always help, other means are required. But in severe forms of asthma, the use of such treatment can be dangerous, so constant monitoring by a doctor is necessary. There are no specific treatment periods, everything depends on the course of the disease. For chronic patients, it is good if the dosage of drugs can be reduced every three to six months, if it worsens, immediate cancellation is necessary. What drugs should not be used during exacerbations? There are a number of drugs that are strictly prohibited to use during periods of exacerbation, as they can only worsen the general condition. Be sure to make a list of which drugs to take and which not, have it available:
- You can not use antihistamines;
- soothing and hypnotics should not be given to the patient, even if it is required to calm him. It is better to use respiratory gymnastics, which helps no worse;
- phytopreparations, herbal remedies, since they can cause severe allergic attacks;
- banks, mustards are not recommended;
- It is impossible to take magnesium sulfate, calcium preparations, mucolytics, prolonged bronchodilators, antibiotics (if not prescribed by a doctor in the presence of bacterial infections).
Measures during exacerbations During asthma exacerbationsmeasures are used to help relieve attacks. The basis for such treatment is the use of a fast-acting beta-2 agonist. The drug is used up to three times during the first hour. In this case, it is necessary to monitor not only the patient's well-being, but also peak flowmetry data. Anticholinergics are often added, a large dose of hormones is given in the form of inhalation agents through a nebulizer. It may be necessary to administer fast-acting methylxanthines (usually euphyllin) if other methods are insufficient. The drugs are administered intravenously. Other treatment measures depend on the result of the therapy. But after stopping the attack, you must contact your attending physician: hospitalization may be required. Severe exacerbations cannot be relieved at home on your own; after taking drugs to alleviate the attack, the patient must be taken to the hospital. This is especially important for very young children, since every minute counts. With any attack, you must take the following actions:
- stop contact with the allergen;
- use aerosol with medicinal product, additional funds prescribed by the doctor in the recommended dosage;
- If the attack is on the wane, then it is necessaryput the patient, provide him peace for an hour. At this time, it is necessary to observe the patient, his condition, and a number of aerosols. If breathing has returned to normal, then the attack can be considered docked.
It is imperative to consult a doctor in the following cases:
- a normal aerosol does not help or relieves the attack on time. Inhalations are clearly not enough;
- if symptoms such as rapidpalpitation, fingernails and lips become blue, it becomes difficult to talk, the nostrils are swollen, in the intercostal spaces the skin is strongly retracted. Habitual inhalations are not enough, they do not have their usual action. In this case, the intervention of a doctor is simply necessary, an ambulance should be called.
If your child has these attacks veryfrequent, do not forget that, in addition to constant monitoring, he should have an aerosol to alleviate the condition. Even with correctly prescribed treatment, severe exacerbations are possible, which are especially common for such a risk group as:
- in patients who already had severe exacerbations in the past. Often they always carry with themselves a means for inhalation;
- with newly abolished hormonal drugs or with the continuation of their intake;
- in patients who do not use inhaled hormonal drugs;
- when taking more than one inhaler per month;
- when abusing sedatives, hypnotics;
- with non-compliance, violation of treatment plans appointed by a doctor.
Nontraditional methods of treatment
Today, unconventional methods are offeredлечения астмы, от них всегда ожидается какое-то чудо, но насколько они действенны? Принесут ли они больше пользы, чем назначенные, к примеру, гормональные препараты? Проблема в том, что так называемые народные методы подходят далеко не всем, эффективность их не доказана, хотя они и продолжают изучаться. Перед тем как начинать подобное лечение, необходимо в обязательном порядке пройти обследование у врача, проконсультироваться по поводу принятия тех или иных мер. Наиболее часто рекомендуются такие методы, как дыхательная гимнастика (методы Бутейко, йога и прочее), иглоукалывание, лечение астмы травами, гомеопатия и другие. Дыхательная гимнастика рекомендуется чаще всего, у нее есть свои многочисленные сторонники, она является первоочередным методом восстановления верхних дыхательных путей, поэтому назвать ее панацеей нельзя. Метод Бутейко, например, эффективен только для больных с гипервентиляцией (это особый нервно-психический вариант развития астмы), но наблюдается это далеко не у всех больных, поэтому сказать, что он может быть применим ко всем, нельзя. Йога не противопоказана при астме, но она не может заменить медикаментозное лечение, только дополнить, и то не во всех случаях. Траволечение может оказаться очень опасным, если у больного наблюдаются признаки поллиноза, то есть аллергические реакции на пыльцу. Поэтому данный метод лечения не рекомендуется применять при астме, он может стать причиной возникновения сильных осложнений. При бронхиальной астме надо помнить, что даже природные, натуральные средства могут быть очень опасными, отсутствие токсичности в данном случае не гарантирует не только излечения, но и безопасности. Поэтому, если вы хотите применять дополнительно различные методы народной медицины, в обязательном порядке проконсультируйтесь у наблюдающего врача! Особенно это важно для совсем маленьких деток, чья иммунная система еще не полностью окрепла. Из всех методов лечения нетрадиционными способами обычно рекомендуют только дыхательные гимнастики, восстанавливающие работу мышц. Самым простым средством является глубокий вдох через соломинку для напитков, опущенную в стакан с водой. Такое упражнение надо делать 4-5 раз за день по 10-15 минут. Можно применять и упражнения для диафрагмы, что улучшает отхождение мокроты. Отличное средство — закаливание. Есть специальная техника закаливания, которая подходит именно для больных бронхиальной астмой, но в данном случае все же необходим надзор специалиста, так как обычное закаливание с постепенно понижающейся температурой не подходит, кроме того, является довольно опасным. Нельзя использовать закаливание при наличии таких сопутствующих заболеваний, как болезни сердечно-сосудистой, нервной, мочеполовой систем. Лечение бронхиальной астмы — это очень ответственный, сложный процесс, к которому надо подходить очень тщательно. Сегодня предлагают самые различные средства, среди которых не только медицинские препараты, но и некоторые приемы нетрадиционной медицины. При выборе средства лечения необходимо исходить от формы тяжести астмы, наличия сопутствующих болезней. Обязательна консультация врача, который назначит точную дозировку, вид препарата. Только в этом случае можно достигнуть положительной динамики лечения бронхиальной астмы.
