During an acute asthma episode, outflow obstruction leads to a prolonged expiratory phase. Typical findings are dyspnea, expiratory wheezing, tachypnea, tachycardia, and coughing. Pulmonary function tests provide the most useful objective measure of the extent of airflow obstruction. A…
Controlling Asthma
Controlling Asthma: Goals of Therapy
According to the NAEPP, asthma management should focus on anti-inflammatory therapy. Treatment should strive to prevent symptoms, maintain near-normal pulmonary function tests, maintain normal activity levels, decrease asthma exacerbations, and provide a simple therapeutic regimen with minimal side effects.…
Controlling Asthma: Long-Term Control Therapy
Long-term control therapy focuses on treating the underlying inflammatory process. Corticosteroids Inhaled corticosteroids are the most effective agents for long-term control and are agents of choice for all patients who progress to persistent asthma. Different potencies, durations of activity,…
Controlling Asthma
Management of this chronic inflammatory disease requires avoiding triggers and employing several pharmacologic strategies, such as use of rescue agents and long-term control therapy A chronic disease involving airway inflammation and bronchial hyperreactivity, asthma causes narrowing of the airways.…
Inhalable Mometasone (Nasonex) Can Control Asthma
The drug mometasone is currently marketed under the trade names Nasonex, a nasal spray for hayfever, and Elocon, a cream for psoriasis and rashes. Two recent studies reported that an inhalable form of mometasone appears to alleviate symptoms and improve…