What is a Medicine for Exercise-Induced Asthma?
Exercise induced asthma (EIA) makes it difficult for the person who wants to achieve and maintain good physical fitness. EIA can discourage the patient from working out; however, exercise is one part of the treatment strategy for the asthmatic to use. She can also talk to her doctor and find out which medications are likely to help her.
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Exercise Induced Asthma
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Exercise induced asthma (EIA) is an asthmatic condition which is triggered by exercise; the patient may be outdoors on a cold, dry day when he begins to feel short of breath, cough and wheeze. EIA typically begins shortly after he has begun his workout, which may be mainly aerobic exercise. In EIA, the bronchial airways become swollen or inflamed, the muscles around the bronchial walls tighten and his lungs produce excess mucous. All of this leads to the inability to breathe; sometimes symptoms are mild; other times, they cause a high degree of difficulty in breathing.
Asthma Strategies
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If the patient knows she has EIA, she can take several steps to avoid an attack. (It is important for her to continue her exercise regimen, even if she has to modify it to prevent future attacks since exercise strengthens the pulmonary system.) Steps she can take include exercising indoors during the winter, avoiding cold, dry air; wearing a ski mask which covers the mouth so she breathes in warmed, moist air; alternating her exercise routine so she does aerobic as well as strength workouts--this is interval exercising--and warming up 30 to 45 minutes before beginning her actual workout. She should also pre-treat her lungs with an asthma medication prescribed by her doctor, again, 30 minutes before her workout.
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Short Acting Inhaler
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Albuterol provides quick relief when an attack has started; it is called a "rescue inhaler" because it works quickly to relax the muscles surrounding the airways so the patient can breathe. Specific medications he can receive by prescription include Proventil, ProAir or Ventolin. These medications all have the same basic chemical composition. The patient pre-treats his lungs by taking two puffs prior to exercise with easier breathing returning almost immediately. He could feel shakiness in his hands and a faster heartbeat, which resolves quickly. The treatment will last approximately four hours.
Long Acting Inhaler
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Salmeterol (Serevent Diskus) and formoterol (Foradil) work by relaxing the airways as albuterol does; the treatment effects of these medications last for up to 12 hours. She has to use these inhalers in combination with inhaled corticosteroids. If the patient treats herself 30 minutes before exercising, she will be less likely to experience an episode of EIA. She needs to be aware that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an alert which says that some patients may be at risk of a severe asthma attack if they use these medications.
Corticosteroid Inhaler
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Fluticasone (Flovent), mometasone (Asmanex), triamcinolone (Azmacort) and budesonide (Pulmicort) all fall into the category of corticosteroid inhaler medications. These medications relieve airway inflammation or swelling, which contributes to the asthma attack; they are used twice a day, every day. Since symptoms of EIA are the same as asthma which is caused by allergies, these medications are prescribed for those who suffer from allergies. This corticosteroids (steroids) have to be used with the long acting bronchodilator medications discussed in an earlier section.
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