Medical Guides

Posts Tagged ‘Asthma’

Inhalation Therapy The major advantage of delivering drugs directly into the airways via inhalation is that high concentrations can be delivered more effectively to the airways and side effects are avoided or minimised. Some of the drugs that are effective in asthma can only be used via inhalation because they are not absorbed when given orally (e.g. anticholinergics and cromones).  

The common presenting complaints are: •    Presence of atrophy, i.e. history of asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema or urticaria in anv of the family members. •    Difficulty in breathing with wheezing sound which may be episodic initially and become continuous later. •    Persistent unexplained cough with or without sputum. •    Past history of frequent ‘allergic bronchitis’, ‘asthmatic bronchitis’ or ‘eosinophilia’.  

Strong Odors and Sprays •    Do not stay in the house when it is being painted. •    Avoid perfume and cosmetics such as talcum powder and hair spray. •    Use ‘roll on’ rather than ’spray on’ deodorants. •    Use non-perfumed household cleaning products whenever possible. •    Reduce strong cooking odors (especially frying) by proper ventilation.  

Asthma Asthma is an ancient Greek word meaning ‘panting or short-drawn breath’. Asthma is a disease of the airways in which the airways get inflamed and thickened. Inflammation makes the airways prone to narrow too much and too easily. When airway narrowing occurs breathing becomes difficult. Asthma affects over 11-15 million people in India.  

Avoidance of triggers In patients with asthma airways tend to narrow too easily and too much. This tendency is present all the time, and leads to ‘attacks’ which are brought on by various triggers. Therefore once a patient of asthma is aware of triggers which bring about an asthma attack he can eliminate or reduce the exposure to triggers and avoid asthma attacks. Some suggestions to avoid triggers are: Pollens