Medications and lifestyle changes are the mainstay of asthma treatment. Alternative and complementary therapies are under investigation to determine whether they may play a role in treatment, as well.
The goals of treatment are:
- Relief of acute symptoms
- Control of airway symptoms
- Reduce underlying inflammation
- Removal of allergy triggers
Treatment involves the following:
At this time, there are no surgical procedures for the treatment of asthma.
References:
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunologywebsite. Available at: http://www.acaai.org/.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/.
Last reviewed January 2007 by Kari Kassir, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
