Final Asthma Essay

Download as docx, pdf, or txt
Download as docx, pdf, or txt
You are on page 1of 12

Callie Snurr

Caroline Reynolds

English 1201-509

21 March 2022

Asthma Treatments: Which are the overall best?

Every day, an average of ten people die from asthma in the United States. This

statistic may be depressing, but it can give you an idea of how serious a chronic

disease like asthma can be. Asthma is not known to be a deathly disease when treated

right, but not knowing how it can affect a person might be one of the things that could

potentially make it more harmful than it should be. Many people in the world today

struggle with asthma, but not all people know how or why they have it. Asthma is most

commonly diagnosed in children 5-12 years old, but it can be diagnosed later in life as

well. If not diagnosed early, asthma could lead to other major health problems that could

be life threatening. Many treatments are used to provide relief for a person’s asthma,

but what ways are the best? The best ways to treat asthma are the treatments that have

the most overall benefits, rather than those that are expensive, difficult to administer,

and hardly effective.

“Asthma” comes from a Greek wording with the meaning of “short of breath”

(Holgate). This first was named by a scholar in the 19th century by the name of Henry

Hyde Salter. He started using this term to help diagnose people that were struggling to

breathe. He started diagnosing them as “asthmatic”. At this time, doctors used any

treatment they could to help these “asthmatic” people. They started using a technique

called allergy immunotherapy in the early 1900’s. This treatment adapted into giving
people shots of adrenaline in the 1940s-50s. Shortly after these new treatments came

some that are similar to the ones doctors and medical professionals use to help treat

people with asthma in today’s world. Treatments doctors use now include a wide variety

of things: different kinds of inhalers (a small breathing device that lets out a drug you

breathe in to help your asthma), a variety of long-term medication used to help

decrease the effect asthma has on someone, etc. Asthma has been around for as long

as 2,600 B.C.E, and people are still struggling with it in 2022.

Asthma can be described in very simple terms. It is defined as “a chronic lung

disease that makes it harder to move air into and out of your lungs'' (American Lung

Association). This simple definition is a quick way to describe the inflammation and

swelling of the airways in the lungs. This swelling can develop because of things like

allergies, cold air, smoke, mold, etc. These things can be in our everyday lives, which is

what makes asthma so serious towards certain groups of people. There are many

different triggers of asthma and medical professionals are finding new triggers

everyday. Depending on what makes a person's asthma flare-up, there are different

treatments that can help. Most people with allergic asthma or another lower impact type

can be treated with something as easy as an everyday medication or an inhaler. People

with other more complicated forms of asthma can be treated with an asthma plan and

other medications that are stronger to help their breathing. If not treated correctly,

asthma can lead to some other health problems that would cause a whole other host of

issues. This is just one reason why having an appropriate asthma treatment is

important.
Depending on what type of asthma a person has, they can be treated in many

different ways. These treatments could be to reduce the swelling in the airway, reduce

the effect certain allergies have on a person’s asthma, relieve coughing or wheezing,

etc. There are different kinds of medications for each of these things. Bronchodilators

are used to relax the airway and help with inflammation while breathing (Mayo Clinic).

These are most commonly used to help shortness of breath while doing everyday

activities. Most people with these everyday asthma symptoms are prescribed an inhaler.

Inhalers are small breathing devices that puff out a small amount of medication into

someone's lungs when used. These can be an immediate help when someone is having

an asthma attack or sudden asthma symptoms. Some medications are used to help

more than one thing that causes you to have bad asthma symptoms. These are called

combination-medications. Combination-medications are prescribed as everyday

medications a person can take every 12 hours at home. More specialized medications

such as biologics are used to target specific cells that cause inflammation in the lungs.

These medications are used when doctors want to treat the direct area of the source

that is causing the inflammation. These medications are administered at a doctors office

about every 2-4 weeks depending on the severity of the symptoms.

Treatments for asthma can range from a single pill taken in the morning to an

inhaler used every 12 hours, but what are the costs of these medications? In a study

done in Brazil, researchers interviewed people aged 5 and up twice a year according to

how they were being treated for asthma, and the cost of the treatments (Costa,

Caetano, Werneck, Bregman, Araújo, Rufino). This study showed that people who had

asthma and had other health problems such as obesity, paid much more for their
medications than those with just asthma. The people who had these other health

problems paid more for their medication because they had many costs adding up, not

only their asthma medication. The medication for their asthma may have also been

stronger or a higher dosage, causing it to be a higher cost as well. People with a higher

severity of asthma also were more likely to pay more for their medications. “The overall

cost of medications for this type of asthma accounted for 62.2% of the direct costs of

asthma” (Costa, Caetano, Werneck, Bregman, Araújo, Rufino). The researchers' final

conclusions about this study were that things like environmental factors, other major

health issues, and asthma medications had the biggest overall impact of the cost of

treatments. This study showed that some asthma medications are not the overall

problem sometimes when it comes to costs, and that a person’s health issues combined

with asthma can make it more costly.

Some asthma treatments have been proven to be more effective than other

treatments. Many patients who are diagnosed with asthma have to find the best way to

control their asthma before they lose control of it. In an article done by the Karolinska

Institute, a group of authors tell about the lack of “effective, focussed treatments' ' there

are around the world. The authors focus on the unmet needs of treatments when it

comes to treating children. First, the authors state what the “unmet needs'' are in

pediatric asthma. These needs include, “Lack of clinical efficacy and safety evidence of

biologics in patients under 6 years old, limited availability of non-steroid based

alternative therapies, lack of available therapies for children with severe asthma, etc.”

(Karolinska Institute). The article tells the most effective treatments for asthma, and how

they can be used in pediatric asthma situations. The authors state that, “The mainstay
controller medication used in pediatric asthma to limit airway inflammation is an ICS, as

it has been shown to significantly improve lung function, and reduce exacerbations' '

(Karolinska Institute). An ICS is rather known as “Inhaled Corticosteroids' ' and is the

most effective asthma medication used today. These ICS medications may be very

effective, but they can come with some very serious side effects. According to the

article, “ ICS use in children may be the most important and effective type of treatment,

however there are some potentially serious and harmful effects associated with using

such medications. These include things like growing problems, increased ability to get

infections, and hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis suppression, potentially

causing adrenal crisis or growth retardation in children '' (Karolinska Institute). This is

just one example of an “unmet need” in the world of pediatric asthma. The medication

used can significantly help a child’s asthma, but with what cost? Another common type

of medication used to treat children's asthma is OCS, otherwise known as “Oral

Corticosteroids” are another form of medication which helps exacerbations. While this

type is also very effective, it also comes with some harmful side effects. According to

the article, OCS can cause “impairment with growth, difficulty with bone density, and

behavioral issues'' (Karolinska Institute). With these two treatments having some

negative effects on children, there was research done to help find new ways that did not

involve steroids or anything like them to help children’s asthma. One of these newer

treatments is called “omalizumab”, and works to fight allergic asthma in children. This

new found way to help children with asthma is a better combination treatment to help

children who suffer from severe asthma. This new medication is currently being tested,

but so far it has effectively and safely helped children with asthma. Omalizumab is
somewhat higher in cost compared to other asthma treatments, but it is still in its testing

phase and will very likely drop in cost shortly after being tested and made available for

patients.

One easy way someone with asthma can help control it is by taking steps

towards asthma prevention. Asthma prevention is one form of “treatment” that occurs

when a person takes the necessary precautions so they have less asthma flare ups.

These precautions could be anything from staying away from things that cause asthma

to worsen to taking medication regularly. These very small actions can make asthma

much easier to control. The first thing someone with asthma should do to help decrease

their flare-ups is following an asthma management plan (see image below). This plan

will assure staying on track to better manage asthma, and when it is time to go to the

doctor because of it. Asthma can develop and get worse throughout a person’s life, so

noticing it is getting worse can help a person because that means they need to see a

doctor or physician. These professionals can help you get asthma back on track with a

better plan to manage asthma. Many other small things someone could do to prevent

asthma attacks are not smoking, knowing all major triggers, and using an inhaler or

taking medication when needed. It’s really the little things that can help a lot in treating

someone’s asthma.
Asthma Action Plan (AAFA)

Some asthma medications are hard to administer or keep up with, while some

other medications are easy to receive and do not require a doctor visit every month.

These medications can vary depending on what causes asthma, how bad asthma is,

and so on, but there are some general medications that are better for everyone with

asthma. Asthma medications that are meant to give fast relief are usually the

medications that people use the most. These medications are known as

Bronchodilators, Anti-Inflammatories, Combination Medicines, and Anticholinergics.

“Bronchodilators help the muscles around the airways relax (breathing tubes)”

(American Lung Association). These medications come in the form of inhalers which are

small breathing devices that puff out medication into a person’s lungs. Some

bronchodilators are used for fast relief when someone is struggling to breathe in a

sudden moment, but some are used to help over a period of time. Anti-Inflammatories

are used to help the build-up of any mucus or swelling that can occur in the airways.

“Most often, anti-inflammatories are used as inhaled medications and after using such

medications you must make sure to rinse out your mouth with water ensuring there is no

risk of getting a yeast infection in the throat” (American Lung Association). Combination

Medications are those that are used with two forms of asthma medications to improve

the outcome of the treatments. Anticholinergics are used to prevent muscles from

closing in around the airways in the lungs. This form of treatment is most commonly

used as a form of combination medications with a bronchodilator. Anticholinergics

should be used for long term asthma prevention.


For people who have very severe asthma, treatments can vary depending on

how bad it can be. Severe asthma can be diagnosed when asthma has almost complete

control over a person’s life and everyday living. When someone’s asthma is causing

them to lose sleep, stay in instead of going out, and so on, this causes a person to be

unhappy and uncomfortable in their daily life. Treating this severe form of asthma can

be done in many ways. One way to treat severe asthma is with Macrolide Antibiotics,

which are used to help a person’s body fight off serious infections. This medication

takes control of the white cell count in the airways, regulating it and making sure it is

right. These medications are not to be taken long term, as they can cause some overall

side effects like antibiotic resistance, which can cause harm for people in the future.

Another type of medication that can be used to treat severe asthma is Oral Costeriods.

This type of medication is used specifically for reducing inflammation in and around the

airways. This medication is a good one for adults and children, but should not be taken

long-term for children, as it can cause harmful effects on the body over time. Although it

may not be practical, there is an outpatient surgery that can be done to help a person’s

asthma. This is called “Bronchial Thermoplasty”, and is used to smooth muscle tissues

with radio frequency waves. This is a last resort for people who have tried every form of

treatment. “BT is a last resort option but is generally allowed to patients whose severe

asthma will not respond to inhaled corticosteroids or long-term bronchodilator

medications and they rely on oral-corticosteroids more than twice yearly to manage

asthma attacks and other asthma problems” (American Lung Association). These

severe asthma medications may not be a practical choice for everyone, but when no
other treatments work for someone with asthma it is necessary to find a treatment that

provides relief.

Some people argue that the best treatments for asthma are those that provide

relief without taking pills and using other medical treatments. Alternative treatments of

asthma include yoga, herbs and vitamins, acupuncture, and biofeedback. All of these

alternative treatments can be helpful when treating asthma in many ways. One of the

herbal treatments that has been known to help asthma is a Chinese herb called Ma

Huang (ephedra). This herb has been used to act as a bronchodilator for people who

prefer an all-natural remedy, rather than a type of pill or other medication. This herb was

later banned by the FDA because it was causing health problems in people using it.

Yoga is one form of treatment that could be hit or miss. Yoga can allow people to

practice slower breathing, but it has not been proven to help asthma in the long run.

Acupuncture is another way that asthma can be treated, but it is not certain it will be a

big help. “There are some studies that show acupuncture helps treat asthma, but this

has not been proven yet” (Cleveland Clinic). Biofeedback too has yet to be proven to

help the overall aspect of asthma. These treatments can be used to help some parts of

a person’s breathing, but there overall impact is nothing like those of real medications

that are prescribed. Compared to these alternative treatments, things like inhalers, anti-

inflammatories, and combination medications significantly help more. They have been

proven to act quickly in asthma relief, and help asthma over time. Prescribed

medications focus on the exact issue that is causing someone’s asthma, while things

like herbs and yoga are just efforts to provide relief, not for-certain solutions. Natural

supplements have been used to help reduce asthma symptoms, but the overall use of
them has not been proven to treat asthma like bronchodilators, and other types of

medical-approved treatments.

About 260 million people in the world are known to have asthma. This chronic

disease makes it difficult for people to breathe comfortably. This disease can make

living difficult for many people; but when provided with the correct treatment, symptoms

can be helped. Treatments for asthma could be anything from an oral costeriod, to a

procedure done by a doctor to help the muscles around the airways. Asthma treatments

can be different depending on the person, but the best treatments are those that have

the most overall benefits. These treatments are those that cost the least, are the most

effective, and are the easiest to receive.


Works Cited

AAFA Medical Scientific Council. "Preventing Asthma Episodes and Controlling Your

Asthma." Aafa.org, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Sept. 2015,

www.aafa.org/asthma-prevention/. Accessed 19 Apr. 2022.

American Lung Association. "Understand Your Asthma Medication." Lung.org, American

Lung Association, 23 June 2020, www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-

disease-lookup/asthma/living-with-asthma/managing-asthma/understand-your-

medication. Accessed 19 Apr. 2022.

American Lung Association Scientific and Medical Editorial Review Panel. "Severe

Asthma." Lung.org, American Lung Association, 26 Oct. 2021,

www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma/learn-about-

asthma/severe-asthma. Accessed 19 Apr. 2022.

"What Is Asthma?" Lung.org, American Lung Association, 23 Oct. 2020,

www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma/learn-about-

asthma/what-is-asthma#:~:text=Asthma%20is%20a%20lung%20disease,and

%20out%20of%20your%20lungs. Accessed 19 Apr. 2022.

Barnes, Peter J. "Inhaled Corticosteroids." Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, National Library of

Medicine, 8 Mar. 2010,


www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4033967/#:~:text=Inhaled

%20corticosteroids%20. Accessed 19 Apr. 2022.

Cleveland Clinic. "Asthma: Alternative Therapy." Clevelandclinic.org, Cleveland Clinic,

2017, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/16730-asthma-alternative-

therapy. Accessed 19 Apr. 2022.

Costa, Eduardo, et al. "Estimated Cost of Asthma in Outpatient Treatment: A Real-world

Study." Scielo.br, Faculdade de Saúde Pública da Universidade de São Paulo,

24 Apr. 2017, www.scielo.br/j/rsp/a/MJNNMj78zv7hTqd9KMPZSjz/?lang=en.

Accessed 19 Apr. 2022.

Holgate, Stephen T. "A Brief History of Asthma and Its Mechanisms to Modern

Concepts of Disease Pathogenesis." Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, Nation Library of

Medicine, 6 May 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2892047/.

Accessed 19 Apr. 2022.

"Asthma." Mayoclinic.org, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 5

Mar. 2022, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/diagnosis-

treatment/drc-20369660. Accessed 19 Apr. 2022.

Papadopoulos,, Nikolaos, et al. "Pediatric Asthma: An Unmet Need for More Effective,

Focused Treatments." Eds-s-ebscohost-com.sinclair.ohionet.org, EBSCO

Industries, Feb. 2019, eds-s-ebscohost-com.sinclair.ohionet.org/eds/detail/detail?

vid=7&sid=1c7d314e-7c9e-4df8-8505-843c0845135c

%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#AN=134360356&db=fsr.

Accessed 19 Apr. 2022.

You might also like