Steroid Treatments for Asthma

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Asthma is a debilitating and sometimes deadly breathing disease that adversely affects the small tubes or airways that delivers air to the lungs and carries air out of the lungs. The airways of asthma sufferers are distended and inflamed, which restricts the normal airflow into and out of the lungs. Steroid treatments are the most effective protocol and commonly used method for the treatment of asthma symptoms.

Steroids Control Asthma Symptoms

Without steroids like corticosteroids, asthma sufferers can experience uncontrolled coughing, tightness in the chest and wheezing. Additionally, asthma symptoms are often triggered by colds, upper respiratory infections, smoke and a variety of allergies. However, corticosteroids have been used extensively for many years to control the inflammation in the airways and lungs.

Corticoseroids Are Produced by the Adrenal Gland

The human body makes corticosteroids naturally with help from the adrenal gland. Steroids taken by people diagnosed with asthma are delivered by using steroid inhalers usually not more than once a day or oral steroids. Steroid inhalers and steroids taken orally in the form of a pill or tablet enhance the body's natural steroid production. It is important to note that steroid treatments for asthma are not the same steroids used by some athletes like body builders. Asthma sufferers who take steroids orally have been known to experience an increase in appetite that can lead to weight gain.

Best Prevention

Steroid inhalers are used to prevent asthma symptoms by delivering small amounts directly into the airways. Inhalers should be used daily even when there are no asthma symptoms. Steroid inhalers will not produce instantaneous relief if the asthma sufferer is out of breath or breathless. Steroid inhalers primarily decrease long-term inflammation.

Steroid treatments for asthma that are taken orally in the form of a tablet are designed to decrease inflammation quickly generally three hours or less. Steroid tablets deliver up to 50 times the amount of a single steroid inhaler puff. Steroid tablets used to prevent asthma symptoms are not generally prescribed for more than 14 days at a time.

Emergency Asthma Treatment

Steroid treatments for asthma may also be injected, although it is not often prescribed. Steroid injections are generally used only in case of an emergency to treat severe asthma symptoms or asthma attacks.

Other Considerations

There are a small number of asthma sufferers whose steroid treatment will include the use of steroid inhalers and steroid tablets. Steroid treatment for asthma in the form of an inhaler or in tablet form should be closely monitored by a qualified healthcare professional. For children suffering from asthma, receiving steroid treatment from a pediatrician is recommended.