You wake up coughing at night. You wheeze when you walk up a flight of stairs. You feel short of breath when you go outside. It’s easy to think these symptoms are just part of living with asthma — but they shouldn’t be.
Lynda Mitchell
CEO, Allergy & Asthma Network
Research shows many people with asthma often accept daily symptoms as “normal.” The truth is, asthma can be better controlled. You don’t have to settle for feeling this way.
The first step is to find out if your asthma is under control. Ask yourself:
- Do you use your quick-relief inhaler more than twice a week?
- Do asthma symptoms often wake you up at night?
- Have you had to reduce your daily activities due to asthma?
- Have you taken oral corticosteroids for asthma more than two times in the past year?
- Have you recently been to the ER, urgent care, or hospital for an asthma attack?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, your asthma may not be well controlled. Talk with an asthma specialist.
Newer and advanced treatments
Today, there are more ways than ever to treat asthma. Most people start with using two types of medications:
- Quick-relief inhaler (usually albuterol) to relax airway muscles and stop symptoms fast
- Daily controller inhaler (usually an inhaled corticosteroid) to reduce swelling in the airways and prevent symptoms
If you’re still having symptoms or your asthma is worsening, consider new or more advanced treatments.
Get SMART about your asthma
One newer approach is called SMART (Single Maintenance and Reliever Therapy). This option uses a single inhaler for both daily control and quick relief.
SMART combines two medicines that work together: an inhaled corticosteroid to reduce inflammation and a long-acting bronchodilator to open the airways quickly.
That means you…
- take it every day to prevent symptoms; and
- use the same inhaler when symptoms flare up.
SMART also simplifies asthma care, reducing confusion about which inhaler to use and when.
Another two-in-one option
There is also a new inhaler that combines quick-relief medicine (albuterol) with an inhaled corticosteroid steroid in one device.
You use this type of inhaler only when symptoms start. The inhaler relaxes airway muscles to improve breathing and treats the inflammation that causes symptoms. Most people still use a daily controller inhaler along with it.
Studies show the combination can help prevent an asthma attack.
Treating asthma at the source
If your asthma is not under control using these or other medications, your doctor may suggest biologic medications.
These treatments work on the cell level. They target the root cause of inflammation in your body. They can help you gain long-term control of your asthma.
Biologics are given as a shot. They are usually added to your treatment plan. That means you’ll still use a daily controller inhaler, along with the biologic, to keep your asthma well managed.
What about costs?
High costs of medications can become a barrier to good asthma care. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about:
- Lower-cost medications or generics
- Patient assistance programs
- Online discount pharmacies
- Switching to treatment covered by insurance
Remember: taking your medicine as prescribed can prevent serious symptoms and trips to the hospital.
Visit ControlYourAsthma.org to learn more.
