Common name: Hika, hapo (Tag.); angkit (Iloc.); singap (Pangasinan)
Asthma is a chronic or long-term disease associated with inflammation of the airways. It is a lung disease that causes tightening of the muscles around the walls of the airways making them narrower, and the lining of the airways becomes inflamed causing difficulty of breathing, coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness. Asthma attack occurs when you are exposed to allergens.
Commonly Prescribed Drugs
- Inhaled corticosteroids act on multiple targets, e.g. inflammatory cells within the airway.
- Oral corticosteroids are given in combination with other drugs for acute and severe attacks, or for long term treatment.
- Leukotriene antagonists prevent either the production or action of leukotrienes (chemicals produced by inflammatory cells that cause muscle constriction around airways, which are helpful in the management of severe asthma and are considered alternative to inhaled steroid in the treatment of mild persistent asthma.
- Chromones are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which are well tolerated by children and young adults. They prevent asthma caused by allergens, exercise and cold air.