Asthma

Whilst the vast majority of people with asthma can manage their condition with the use of inhalers and oral medication, they may occasionally experience a rapid worsening of symptoms known as an asthma attack. If untreated it could become life threatening, which is why it is important to always to take the prescribed medication regularly as well as keeping a reliever on hand at all times.

Treatment for asthma usually falls under two main categories. These are known as relievers and preventers.

The reliever is almost always in the form a blue inhaler which may come in different forms/devices, however the function of the reliever is to give relatively rapid relief from symptoms of an asthma attack or breathlessness. Reliever inhalers are usually taken as and when required. An example of a reliever inhaler is Ventolin, also known as Salbutamol.

The preventer is usually an inhaler which is a colour other than blue, which is taken once or twice a day to help manage asthma and to help prevent asthma attacks in the long term. The doctor may also occasionally prescribe oral medication when inhaled therapy isn’t enough. An example of a reliever is Clenil Modulite inhaler, which is an inhaled corticosteroid also known as Beclometasone.