Archive for September, 2009

What Is Steroid-Resistant Asthma

Posted by admin On September - 30 - 2009Comments Off

Asthma is considered as one of the most common diseases that most people around the world are suffering with. This is mainly the cause of the environment pollution.

Allergens (substances that can trigger asthma) are present in the atmosphere and on food. Asthma is a non-curable health condition that makes a person suffer and have difficulty in breathing. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, uneasiness of the chest and shortness in breathing.

With the passage of time, there have been available treatments that will help ease patients when it comes to asthma attacks. There are some medicines that have steroids in it. What steroids have to do asthma?

Steroids have been proven as one of the most effective anti-asthma drugs found on the market. These are particularly use for those patients with severe or chronic asthma attacks. Today, steroids can be part of a strategic plan to combat asthma even at an early stage.

First, steroids can widen the airways in a very short span of time and stay effective for many hours.

Second, steroids are anti-asthma and anti-inflammatory type of drugs. It has been proven that steroids are effective when it comes to minimizing any inflammation found on the lungs and airways.

Third, steroids are a very good source for immunotherapy. Steroids can improve the body’s immune system to fight back against allergens.

Fourth, steroids take effect immediately. This is good news for those who have severe asthma attack. They can use inhalers that contain steroids medicine in order to get relieved.

Fifth, steroids can improve the breathing systems. This will improve a patient’s oxygen intake and no more difficulty in breathing.

As of the moment, there is a lot of cortisone steroids used in order to fight against asthma. Medical experts are now conducting researches on how to minimize or avoid the different side effects caused by steroid treatment.

Asthma responds very well to steroids. However, there are some patients who do not respond poorly. Thus, they need to take in higher dosage of steroids in order to control asthma. There are associated side effects of using the drugs leading to further complications. Steroid resistant asthma is a term used for both groups.

There are some instances where patients have their asthma come to worst and later on increase the dosage of steroids. To have a clear diagnosis for steroid resistant asthma, it is necessary that there should be investigation regarding the different factors that might trigger an attack.

Factors might be due to insufficient steroid that reach the airway, wrong diagnosis, and exposure to unknown or sensitizing agents among others. It is very important to have better knowledge when it comes to steroid resistant asthma in order to get better treatment and taking in steroids will be stopped to allow other drugs (anti-inflammatory) to be used by patients to avoid further complications.

As of the moment having a thorough research about steroids and its effect on asthma will be a stepping stone to fully understand what steroid resistant asthma is and how to go about it, especially during attacks.