Asthma Treatment in Westfield, MA

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic (long-term) condition that affects the airways in the lungs that carry air in and out. If you have asthma, the airways can become inflamed and narrowed at times. This makes it harder for air to flow out of your airways when you breathe out. 

Goals for Treating Asthma

The main goals for treating asthma include: 

  • Short-term relief 
  • Long-term control 
  • Manage the symptoms 
  • Reduce asthma attacks 
  • Know how to prevent an emergency 
  • Create a personal action plan with your doctor 

Asthma treatments work by:

  1. Relaxing the muscles that tighten around the airways and help remove and reduce mucus 
  2. They reduce the swelling and mucus inside the airways 

How is Asthma Treated?

There are several options to treat asthma, as it is a fairly common condition. 

The main treatments include: 

  • Medications 
  • Injections 
  • Surgery 
  • Other Therapies 

What are Asthma Medications?

Treating asthma with medication is the most common treatment option. There are various ways these medications can be delivered, with inhalers being the most common. An inhaler is a small, handheld device that delivers medication directly to your lungs. 

You can receive asthma medication through: 

Inhalers

  • Reliever inhalers -you use a reliever inhaler to treat your symptoms when they occur and usually works within minutes. 
  • Preventer inhalers -a preventer inhaler contains a steroid medicine and is used daily to reduce the inflammation and sensitivity of your airways, which stops your symptoms occurring 

Nebulizers

  • A machine changes asthma medications from a liquid to a mist so it’s easier to get the medicine into your lungs 
  • Usually used if you are having trouble with inhalers 
  • Cromolyn sodium is a mast cell stabilizer that prevents the release of certain natural chemicals into your body that can be delivered through a nebulizer 

Tablets

  • Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) may also be in a syrup or powder form to prevent symptoms 
  • Theophylline can be taken daily to avoid symptoms 
  • Steroid tablets are usually a last resort if you don’t respond to other treatments 

You will probably take more medicine when you begin treatment to get control of your asthma. Once your asthma is well-controlled, your doctor may be able to reduce the amount of medicine you take. 

Injections

For some people with severe asthma, injections of medicines called biologic therapies are given every few weeks. These can help to control the symptoms. They are not suitable for everyone with asthma and can only be prescribed by an asthma specialist. Talk with Family Medicine Associates to see if injections are the right choice for you to manage your asthma. 

Get Help to Control Your Asthma

Schedule Your Appointment Today! 

Please contact Family Medicine Associates today to schedule a consultation with one of our specialists. New patients may contact our office in Westfield, MA by calling 413-562-5173.