Welcome to The National University Hospital : Asthma

Currently there is no permanent cure for asthma but you can treat and control asthma very effectively with anti-asthma medicines. They are divided into a few groups:

A.	Preventers
B.	New combination preventers
C.	Quick relievers
D.	Rescue steroid tablets

A. Preventers:

Preventers are long-term preventive medicine to be taken every day. They control swelling in the air passages and make them less sensitive to asthma triggers. They make asthma attacks less frequent and less severe.

Steroid inhalers are the most effective preventers used to avoid asthma attacks and reduce asthma deaths. They deliver medicine directly to the air passages to treat the main problems in the lungs.

Steroid inhalers:

	Usually brown and orange in colour. Some examples are Pulmicort and Flixotide.
	Can only be effective when is inhaled on a daily basis even if you do not have asthma symptoms.
	Work slowly to reduce mucus and control swelling in the air passages.
	The slow preventive effect may take up to 4 weeks to work.
	NOT for treating acute asthma attack because of the slow effect.

Steroid inhalers (preventers)

B. New combination preventers

The new combination preventer combines both the preventer and long-acting reliever in a single device.

	Red and Purple inhalers. Examples are Symbicort and Seretide.
	Effective only when inhaled on a daily basis even if you do not have asthma symptoms.
	Control swelling in the air passages.
	Prevent asthma attacks and asthma deaths.
	They are indicated when steroid inhalers alone are not effective.

New combination preventers

C. Quick relievers:

Everyone with asthma needs a quick reliever to quickly stop your asthma symptoms to let you breathe easier. They relax the tightened air passages during an asthma attack.

	Usually blue inhalers. Examples are Ventolin and Bricanyl.
	Work temporary to stop asthma attack.
	Will NOT prevent asthma attacks and asthma deaths.
	Will NOT reduce mucus and control swelling in the air passages of the lungs.
	Will NOT make the air passages less sensitive to asthma triggers.

Quick relievers

D. Rescue steroids tablets

Short courses of steroid tablets, also called rescue steroids, are necessary to treat acute asthma attacks. They are usually prescribed for 1 to 2 weeks

During an asthma attack, steroid tablets are given to quickly control swelling and reduce mucus in the air passages to prevent severe asthma attack. The prescribed steroid tablets given by your doctor are completely different from the anabolic steroids abused by the sportsmen to boost their metabolism.

Rescue steroid tablets

Please consult your doctor if your condition does not improve after a short course of steroid treatment.

Are there any side effects from steroid tablets and steroid inhalers (preventers)?

Most people are worried of the side effects of steroids. But the truth is we have natural steroids in our body. When your doctor gives you steroid inhaler or steroid tablets, they are added to this natural steroid to help reduce the mucus in the air passages and prevent serious asthma attack.

Side effects of steroid tablets:

	During acute asthma attack, short course of steroid tablets are given to save life rather than cause harm to your body.
	You may have a good appetite and may even gain weight after taking short course of steroids. Such effects are temporary and will stop when you complete the treatment.
	Only a very small number of people with troublesome asthma symptoms, who need to take long- term steroids tablets over months or years, will have serious side effects. These include osteoporosis, high blood pressure, cataract, weight gain, bruising and prone to infection.
	There is a much greater risk of side effects when taken small doses of steroid tablets over a long period than high doses for 1- 2 weeks.

Side effects of steroid inhalers (preventers):

	Side effects are uncommon, mild and temporary.
	Possible side effects are hoarse voice and throat irritation. You can avoid by rinsing your throat well after inhaling the medicine.
	The dose of inhaled steroid per day is a lot smaller and the side effects are less frequent and less severe than steroid tablets. For example, 2 puffs of Pulmicort inhaler (200 micrograms) a day delivers 400 micrograms of inhaled steroid. In acute asthma attack, six 5 milligrams of steroid tablets a day will be given- 30,000 micrograms , 75 times more than inhaled steroid.

Steroid tablets and steroid inhalers (preventers)

Why must I use my steroid inhaler every day even when I am well?

Even when you feel well, the mucus and swelling continues in the air passages. If you stop using your steroid inhaler, the air passages in the lungs become more swollen and produce a lot of sticky mucus. Therefore you are at risk of having an asthma attack if you are exposed to the things you are allergic to.

This is because the effect of the steroid inhaler is slow. It may take up to 4 weeks before it is fully effective in controlling swelling and reducing mucus in the air passages.

	What Is Asthma?
	Asthma Attacks
	Anti-Asthma Medicines
	Common Asthma Triggers
	Are Anti-Asthma Medicines Safe For Pregnant Women?
	What Is Asthma Action Plan?