Explain Stepwise Approach to Asthma Treatment & Management

Asthma and Stepwise Management
By
Institution
Asthma and Stepwise Management
Introduction
Asthma is chronic and incurable. The primary goal of its treatment is controlling the disease. The control entails prevention of troublesome and chronic symptoms such as shortness of breath and coughing, maintaining proper lung function, and maintaining normal sleep and activity level. There are some options that one can use to achieve this including treatment. There are two treatment options for asthma, namely long-term control and quick-relief treatment all of which impact the patient differently.
Long-Term Control and Quick Relief Treatment Options for Asthma and their Impact
Long-term asthma control medication is regularly taken to prevent asthma attacks and control chronic symptoms. This is the most important type of treatment for many people with asthma. Such type of medication includes inhaled corticosteroids, long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs), leukotriene modifiers, theophylline and combination inhalers containing both a LABAs and a corticosteroid (Drugs.com, 2012).
Inhaled corticosteroids impact the patient by reducing the tightening and swelling of the airways, and they include budesonide (Pulmicort), beclomethasone (Qvar), and ciclesonide (Alvesco). Leukotriene modifiers block the effects of leukotrienes that are the immune system chemicals responsible for asthma symptoms, and the include montelukast (Singulair) and zafirlukast (Accolate) (Drugs.com, 2012). LABAs reduce swelling and open airways for at least 12 hours, and they include formoterol (Foradil, Perforomist) and salmeterol (Serevent). On the other hand, theophylline decreases the response of the lungs to irritants and also relaxes the airways, and they include theo-24, and Uniphyl. The combination inhalers combine the impact of both corticosteroids and LABAs, and some of them include fluticasone and salmeterol (Advair Diskus) and mometasone and formoterol (Dulera) (Drugs.com, 2012).
Quick relief medication also known as rescue medication are taken as needed for short-term, rapid relief of symptoms. They are used to prevent or treat an asthma attack. They include short-acting beta agonists such as albuterol (ProAir HFA, Ventolin HFA, others), oral corticosteroids used for serious asthma attacks such as prednisone and methylprednisolone. Others include ipratropium (Atrovent). This medication impacts the patient by relaxing the airway muscles thus opening the lungs (Mayoclinic.org, 2015). They can stop an asthma attack in progress or ease worsening symptoms. They commence working in minutes and are effective for 4-6 hours and are not for daily use.
Stepwise Approach to Asthma Treatment and Management
This stepwise approach consists of 6 steps and is going to cover all age groups.
Step 1: (all ages) Provision of short-acting beta-agonist such as albuterol. If this is used for more than two days per week (other than for exercise), then consider insufficient control thus there is the need to step up treatment (Arcangelo & Peterson, 2013).
Step 2: (all ages) it is preferred that low doses of inhaled steroids are administered). Alternatively, cromolyn or leukotriene blockers can also be used. For those between the age of 0-4 consider referral ...