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Even if you are the most conscientious person who strictly avoids all known triggers (both allergic and non-allergic), you can still experience a flare of asthma.When symptoms of coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath occur, treatment with medications is the most effective method to bring asthmatic symptoms under control. If you experience mild, intermittent and/or occasional asthmatic symptoms, you may need medications infrequently. If you are severely affected, you may need medications on a daily basis to remain functional. Some people avoid asthma medications for fear of potential side effects. However, untreated asthma often becomes chronic, can be disabling and may evolve into a severe acute episode requiring hospitalization. On rare occasions, poorly managed asthma results in death. Such extreme consequences are avoidable in the vast majority of cases. The following discussion of asthma medications clearly indicates that the benefits of asthma control far outweigh the potential risks of side effects of medications. Currently there are a variety of medications available for the treatment of asthma. The most common of these medications are discussed in this section. To help you become more familiar with treatment alternatives, each section provides the following information:
All of the medications covered in the following sections must be prescribed by a physician. Learning about these medications will enable you to intelligently and prudently participate in your own care while under medical supervision.
Medical treatment described in this manual is only recommended as an educational aid and is not intended as a substitute for receiving care from a physician. Speak to your physician before making any changes in your treatment.
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