Asthma: Causes, Prevalence, and Treatment
1. Introduction
Asthma is a common medical condition that affects people of all ages, but is most prevalent in children below eight years and the adult population between 10-12 percent. This figure has remained consistent over the past few years in Australia. The condition is characterised by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, which leads to difficulty in breathing and results in asthma attacks. There is no cure for asthma, but it can be managed through long-term medications and by avoiding triggers that can lead to an attack.
2. Prevalence of Asthma in Australia
Asthma is a common condition that affects 10 – 25 percent of children and 4 – 8 percent of the adult population in Australia. The number of people with asthma has been increasing over the past few years. Asthma is more common in boys than girls up to the age of 14 years, but after this age, more women than men are affected.
3. Asthma Treatment
There is no cure for asthma, but it can be controlled with proper treatment. The goals of asthma treatment are to prevent symptoms, reduce the severity of attacks, and improve the quality of life for people with asthma. The type of treatment will depend on the severity of asthma and how often the person has attacks.
Long-Term Control Medications:
These are taken daily to control the underlying inflammation that leads to asthma symptoms. Long-term control medications include corticosteroids, which are taken as pills or inhaled through an inhaler, and long-acting beta agonists (LABAs), which are taken through an inhaler. Inhaled corticosteroids are the most effective long-term control medications for reducing inflammation in the airways. LABAs should only be used when they are prescribed along with an inhaled corticosteroid.
Preventers:
Preventers are taken daily to help prevent symptoms from occurring. They work by reducing inflammation in the airways and make them less sensitive to triggers that can cause an asthma attack. Preventers include inhaled corticosteroids, cromolyn sodium, nedocromil sodium, and leukotriene modifiers.
Relievers:
Relievers are used when needed to relieve symptoms during an asthma attack. They work by relaxing the muscles around the airways so that air can flow through more easily. Relievers include beta-2 agonists such as Ventolin (albuterol) and Serevent (salmeterol). Beta agonists should only be used as needed for symptom relief and not as a long-term control medication.
Symptom controllers:
Symptom controllers are used when needed to relieve symptoms during an asthma attack. They work by reducing inflammation in the airways and make them less sensitive to triggers that can cause an asthma attack. Symptom controllers include inhaled corticosteroids, cromolyn sodium, nedocromil sodium, and leukotriene modifiers.
Combination medications:
Combination medications are inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta agonists that are prescribed together to provide both long-term control and symptom relief.
4. Conclusion
Asthma is a common medical condition that affects people of all ages, but is most prevalent in children below eight years and the adult population between 10-12 percent. Asthma is a chronic condition characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, which leads to difficulty in breathing and results in asthma attacks. There is no cure for asthma, but it can be controlled through long-term medications and by avoiding triggers that can lead to an attack. The goals of asthma treatment are to prevent symptoms, reduce the severity of attacks, and improve the quality of life for people with asthma.