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Records of asthma go back as far as 1550BC, when it was described in the Ebers papyrus from ancient Egypt. The passing centuries have seen many different 'treatments' for asthma, including some which were positively bad such as tobacco following the return of Sir Walter Raleigh to England from the Americas in 1559! The current range of medications mean that most asthma can be controlled very successfully. The two main groups are relievers and preventers. Relievers work by opening up the airways to relieve symptoms and can be divided into immediate and long-acting relievers. Immediate relievers should be carried with you at all times and used if symptoms come on or in the event of an asthma attack. Preventers work to reduce the inflammation in the airways present asthma; this prevents symptoms from coming on. They do not work immediately and take a week or more to improve asthma when first used. Preventers will only work if they are taken regularly and the amount you need may vary with your asthma. You can obtain more detailed information by going to the commonly asked questions below. How many different medications are there for asthma? How does a reliever inhaler work? Is there more than one kind of reliever? When should I use my reliever? How much reliever should I take? How does my preventer inhaler work? When should I use my preventer ? How much of my preventer should I take? When can I stop my medication? Which medication should I use if I am having an asthma attack?

Topic "Treatment or Cure" Updated 14th August 2003

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