More than 250 million people on our planet suffer from bronchial asthma. This disease affects people of different ages and social groups, greatly impairing the quality of life due to the constant need to use an inhaler and to prevent bouts of painful coughing, shortness of breath or suffocation.
Bronchial asthma - initial symptoms
Even if the disease progresses slowly and the inflammatory process develops sluggishly, there are quite noticeable signs of constriction of the lumen of the bronchi:
- shortness of breath, sometimes with a whistle;
- periodic non-productive dry cough ;
- wheezing during deep breaths and exhalations;
- Dyspnea with emotional excitement or physical exertion.
It is worth noting that not everyone has the same manifest bronchial asthma - the symptoms and treatment of pathology directly depend on the causes that caused the disease. Sometimes the above signs are absent, and the diagnosis of the disease can be diagnosed only after X-ray examination.
Attack of bronchial asthma - symptoms
For suffocation is characterized by the presence of the following:
- a feeling of lack of air;
- inability to take a deep breath;
- difficulty breathing out;
- dizziness, the need for something to lean on;
- prolonged cough without phlegm;
- protrusion of the chest ("pigeon chest");
- a panic condition;
- blanching of the skin with subsequent blueing.
Increased symptoms and unsuccessful attempts to calm the attack can lead to serious complications (pneumothorax, emphysema), so it is desirable to immediately call a medical ambulance team.
Bronchial asthma - treatment and drugs
The main goal of therapy of the disease is to establish the causes of asthma and to eliminate them (if possible). In addition, a constant anti-inflammatory effect is carried out to control the symptoms and prevent the occurrence of seizures.
Medical treatment of bronchial asthma involves the use of drugs of such groups:
- glucocorticosteroids in the inhalation form;
- cromones;
- antagonists of leukotriene type receptors;
- xanthines;
- monoclonal antibodies;
- adrenomimetics.
The standard for the treatment of bronchial asthma is the simultaneous use of basic therapy and the use of funds that eliminate the manifestations of the disease. For this, as a rule, combined medicines (fixed combinations) containing glucocorticosteroids and long-acting adrenomimetics are prescribed.
Modern methods of treatment of bronchial asthma
To date, the most popular is the concept of constant monitoring of response to therapy and flexible dosing of the selected drug. Treatment of bronchial asthma on the steps assumes a constant correction of the number of medications used, a periodic change in the active ingredient, as well as the ratio of the components of basic and symptomatic therapy.
The most prescribed drug is Symbicort (inhaler). The maximum number of procedures is 8 times a day, so it is convenient to use it in the stepwise approach. To maintain the bronchi in a relaxed state and prevent spasms, one-time inhalation is sufficient. In case of an exacerbation and the need to increase the dose of glucocorticosteroid in the body, the patient alone can control the amount of the drug.
Numerous studies show that the above treatment scheme is more effective than using drugs with a fixed concentration of active substance.