Medication Treatment of Asthma for Elders

A disease which increases twitchiness and responsiveness of airways in your body to any stimuli that can cause blockage of the airways is called asthma. Narrowing of muscles around the airway causes infection result in swelling and increased secretion. It will cause you coughing and difficulty in breathing. This disease is very uncomfortable and painful especially if you have weak immune system. People who have this kind of disease are not only children and adults but also elders.

Based on The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration survey, there are more than 1 million Americans who are 65 years old and older has asthma. It shows how the elders grow faster in having asthma disease. In today’s article you will find out important things about elders with asthma and treatment of asthma in elders patients.

Is asthma in elders different than the other?

Usually people who have asthma have been experiencing the disease since they were at their young age. But the fact is that asthma can develop to anyone in any age. But, when asthma occurs at later ages like in 70s or 80s, the symptoms are quite the same with anyone who has the experience. The common reasons why people have asthma are because allergens, virus or infection of respiratory, exercise and irritant or air pollution. We can get irritants and allergens since they can be found in our environment we live in every day. Usually, people with asthma experience shortness of breath, wheezing, tightness of the chest and cough.

For elders, asthma can be a disease with more risks since they can develop failed respiratory because of the asthma they have even though the symptoms are mild. For your information, elders with mild symptoms of asthma can have difficulty of breathing as same as youngster with severe asthma. Asthma is very different in elder patients compare to youngsters. It is also because elders with asthma hardly go into remission. It becomes more serious disease for elders.

Is it difficult to diagnose asthma in elders?

The answer is yes. It is because elders have similar symptoms between asthma and other diseases. That’s why it can be missed diagnose. Usually, symptoms of asthma in elders can be in a form of coughing when fluid coughed out from their lungs. Doctor maybe diagnoses this kind of symptoms as other illness. It can be congestive heart failure or chronic bronchitis. Specifically, emphysema and heart disease are very common to be had in elders especially those who smoke. Smokers also tend to have asthma symptoms.

When elders experience symptoms of asthma which are including chronic cough, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightened with your daily activities such as shopping, gardening, housework or even walking, make sure you go and talk to your doctor. If you let those symptoms untreated, asthma can be worse and create serious risk for your health.

How asthma should be treated?

There are many ways to treat asthma symptoms. There are also various prescriptions of medication that can relieve the symptoms quickly as long as it is controlled well. The simple way is by changing lifestyle from bad to good habits. It can reduce the symptoms especially when asthma is triggered by unknown substance in our environment or allergies. Even though food that can cause elders to have asthma is rare, it doesn’t mean it is impossible. The strong recommendation to avoid experiencing the symptoms for elders is by having regular vaccinations for pneumonia and influenza.

Are there any special treatments for elders who have asthma?

Yes, of course. First thing first, treatments applied for elders are quite complicated since many elders take various medications because they have complex health conditions. Several asthma medications may react with those kinds of treatment that can make elders patients experience serious side effects. Even other medical treatments and medications can make asthma symptoms worse.

Second, elder patients tend to have memory problems and mental confusion compare to young patients. It can be the explanation why many elders have Alzheimer disease. It will make the treatment for asthma symptoms more difficult because they can forget to follow the rules (do and don’ts) of treatment instruction. It can be worse if elders also take several medications for their health issues.

Third, common asthma medications are in the form of dose inhaler with L-shaped metered. It requires specific degree of dexterity and manual coordination which elders will have difficulty to do this. This medication device can be a problem since they may have incorrect dose. That’s why avoid using this kind of medication device for elders but instead using dry powder inhaler as medical treatment. Oral medications or dry powder inhaler can be easier way for elders to take medication regularly.

Who should help elders to treat this asthma disease or allergies?

Usually, people who help elders with asthma disease and allergies are relative or family. They help them to check your medication, treatment, accompany them to go to doctor for medical check-up and so on. But, the important thing you have to remember is that when your elder family has severe asthma, it needs emergency treatment immediately. Taking care of him at home will make him have more risks and make the asthma worse. It’s time to find an asthma specialist and get directly prescription and treatment from him. Immunologist or allergist or pulmonologist are those who have specialty in treating patients with lung disease and especially asthma.

Treatment of asthma in elders patients may be a little bit more complex. The reasons are usually they already have several health issues and they take various medications. It’s also quite challenging to diagnose asthma symptoms in elder. That’s why even little symptoms which lead to asthma are very important to be checked as soon as possible. It’s better to use easier medical device like dry powder inhaler instead of complicated medical device. You should find an asthma specialist if the symptoms get worse. Letting the symptoms untreated will cause severe risks to elder’s health.

Most Effective Treatment for Asthma

Treating asthma is one of the most important task for asthma sufferers. Leaving it, is a bad choice. People with asthma should never underestimate it. It's due to the possibility that asthma attack can lead you to death. And, you can’t predict them to be happen in any time and any where. Not only that, for your information, even a small yet frequent asthma symptoms can make a change in your daily life. Thus, it is important for you to take care of your asthma ,it will never endanger your life or annoy your daily activities.

Identifying the Asthma Triggers and Eliminating Them

Until now, the most effective treatment for asthma sufferers can be done by identifying the asthma triggers. Harmful smoke such as cigarette smoke, dust, air pollution, even pets or aspirin must be eliminated if they are the asthma triggers. Even though eliminating exposure to asthma sufferers are hard to do, but it’s worth it. When there are no triggers that will make the asthma attack is coming, people with asthma can make sure that their asthma attack will never come in sudden. They can live peacefully without any annoyance and disturbance from his/her asthma symptoms.

Avoiding the Asthma Triggers

As it has been known, avoidance of the asthma triggers has become a key component in asthma management. It can be used to improve in controlling asthma symptoms and prevent in the happening of asthma attacks. For that, after knowing the most common triggers, you lifestyle must be changed in order to avoid yourself in their exposure.

Let’s see, if the asthma triggers are in the form of allergens, then you should know what kind of allergy that you have. After that, make sure that you live your life with a mind set to keep out from the source of your allergy. Next, it would be recommended for you to watch out from the smoke exposure. It can be in the form of cigarette smoke or others. Avoiding tobacco exposure is the best. You can’t smoke and you can’t be near people who smokes. For your information, there has been an association between cigarette smoke and asthma. The application of law that makes the citizen limit smoking has shown a great decreasing number of people who are hospitalized because of asthma. Furthermore, active and passive smoker who has asthma will get a worse condition as cigarette smoke is known to reduce the effectiveness of asthma medications, such as the use of corticosteroids.

Other than that, you have to make sure that you don’t get to have any exposure of air pollution. For medications, non selective beta-blockers medication is not recommended for asthma sufferer to take. Last but not the least, you must keep your diet intact, too. Sulfite-containing foods is not the food which is advised for you to eat. Overall, all of this avoidance is hard to do, but it is worth every risk that you may encounter when you are disregarding them.

Lifestyle Modification for Asthma Sufferers

Changing your lifestyle must be done rights. Sometimes, people with no knowledge just avoid all the things that they thought has any relation to asthma. For example, people think that they may need dust mite control measurement. But, it is actually wrong. All control measurement of dust mite, such as vacuuming, getting chemicals to kill mites, doing air filtration, changing mattress covers have been proved to have no effect in managing asthma symptoms or treating asthma attacks. Even though, may be there are some benefit that you’ll get when you are doing it.

One thing that has been known to have a definite effect in asthma sufferers is exercise. Truly, exercise is a really advantageous work for people who has frequent asthma symptoms. Any type of exercise is allowed. But, among all of them, yoga has been recommended by many people. For women, this type of exercise will benefit them the most. Based on previous studies, yoga has been known to help in providing a small yet trusted improvement in symptoms and the quality of life of asthma sufferers. Not only that, it can be made sure that you can get a beautiful body by doing it, too.

Using Asthma Medications

But, if unfortunately trigger avoidance is something which can’t be done, people with asthma is recommended to use asthma medication. Pharmaceutical drugs and medications for asthma sufferers must be selected carefully based on many things. Among all of them, the severity of asthma and the frequency of asthma symptoms become two things to watch out in determining the asthma medications. For this case, specific medications which can be used to manage and treat asthma are generally classified into two categories, which are fast-acting and long-acting medications.

Actually, people with occasional attack of asthma doesn’t need medication to relieve their symptoms. But, if it is an acute attack, there is still possibility that a good medication is going to be needed to relieve the asthma symptoms. Then, for people who want to have a medicine which can give them fast response and short-term to relief their asthma symptoms, bronchodilators can be used. If the attack which is happening is actually coming with another mild persistent disease, then you have to be more prepared, especially if it's present in two asthma attacks or more of them in a week time. In that case you are recommended to take low-dose inhaled corticosteroids. If you don't have it, you can take other alternative, such as an oral leukotriene antagonist drugs. Also, in this case, a mast cell stabilizer drugs are advised for you to take, too. For another case which is happening in asthma sufferers that have daily attacks, different medication management is needed. A higher dose of inhaled form of corticosteroids is usually the medication which has been used to manage and threat that case. In a different exacerbation, either it was moderate or severe asthma attack, the treatment of asthma is slightly added with another medication. Usually, oral corticosteroids are added to these treatments make sure that the asthma sufferer can get to be in their best condition faster.

Management of Asthma Medicine

It's sad to say that there’s no cure for asthma, right now. But, you don’t have to be worried dearly, as some asthma symptoms that you have can be improved by the right asthma management. The right asthma management usually can be carried out with a customized asthma management plan. This management plan specifically can be used to monitor and manage asthma symptoms proactively. It is advised to create and write it down. This management plan is advised to be matched with the changes of symptoms which asthma sufferers have. Of course, it would be better to include the management in reducing the allergens exposure, testing to assess and evaluate the severity of asthma symptoms, and planning the right usage of asthma medications.

Medications Management for Asthma Treatment

For the best treatment, asthma must be managed by the right medications. Medications which are used to manage and treat asthma are actually divided in two common classification. The type of medications which are used to manage in treating acute asthma symptoms are quick-relief medications, or known as fast-acting medications. For preventing further exacerbation in asthma sufferers, long-term control of asthma medications are recommended to use. Other than that two classification of medications, antibiotics may be given, but usually they aren’t needed in general when the symptoms are worsening suddenly.

Fast–acting Asthma Medications

SABA, known as short-acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonists medication, is one common example of the quick-relief medications for asthma. This fast-acting medicines usually comes in the form of salbutamol. People may know it as albuterol USAN. In medicinal terminology, it is also called Salbutamol metered dose inhaler. This medication has been known as the first line type of asthma treatment. It is commonly used by many people to manage and treat asthma attacks and asthma symptoms. To get the best effect, this medication is recommended to be taken before any exercises or activities which usually can induce the asthma symptoms and asthma attacks.

Anticholinergic medications can also provide many additional benefits for asthma sufferers when it is used in the right combination with other medication, like SABA. Of course, usually it is advised to take this when you are managing to treat moderate type or severe type of asthma symptoms. For your information, usually this type of medication is coming in the form as ipratropium bromide and anticholinergic bronchodilators. But, when the asthma sufferer is a child, usually they don’t need additional ipratropium bromide as it doesn’t have any effect to help in overall SABA medications. Other case will need asthma sufferers to take anticholinergic bronchodilators if the person can’t tolerate a SABA medication.

Adrenergic agonists, like inhaled epinephrine, also become one of the type of fast-acting medication for asthma. This medication is known with its ability to have the same efficacy to SABA medications. But, keep in your mind that they aren’t recommended taking because of their association regarding excessive stimulation for the heart.

Asthma Medications in Long–term Control

Medication which has been commonly well-known with its effect as the most effective management plan in asthma treatment in long-term control is corticosteroids. This type of medication can be in two forms, which are inhaled form and oral form. Inhaled forms of corticosteroids usually comes in beclomethasone. This type of medicine is used often by much asthma sufferer. People with asthma usually use this medication once, or maybe twice in a day, as it depends on the condition of asthma symptoms that they have. The severity really matters. Except, when there’s a case of severe persistent disease that following the asthma symptoms, the asthma sufferer is recommended to take corticosteroids until it’s needed.

LABA medication, or called as long-acting beta-adrenoceptor agonists, is another example of this long-term control asthma medications. This type of medication usually comes in the form of formoterol and salmeterol. At least for adult, both of them are believed to help in improving asthma control when they are taken as an additional combination of drug with the inhaled form of corticosteroids. Sadly, until now, the advantage of this medication is still uncertain for children. Maybe, it is due to its side-effects. When both of the medicines are taken without the use of steroids, there is a possibility that there will be an increasing risk of the happening of severe side-effects. Even when people already advised to take it with corticosteroids, there is still a possibility that the risk is increasing.

Another medication in this classification is leukotriene receptor antagonists. This medication is also a typical long-term control asthma medications, aside of LABA. Like LABA, it is also used as an additional medication in combination in taking the inhaled corticosteroids. Montelukast and zafirlukast may be the two choices of this type of medications which are commonly used. Sadly, there are still insufficient evidence that can support the use of this medication in acute exacerbation.

A similar drug which has been classified in the same class of leukotriene receptor antagonists drugs is also needed in this asthma management. Right now, known as 5-LOX inhibitors, this medication have a possibility to act as the perfect alternative drug to manage and treat asthma attack in older children and adult. This type of medication is usually known to take as a treatment for chronic asthma sufferers, which are having a mild type to moderate type of asthma attacks. In 2013, the name of this medication has spread all over the world. Even now, one type of drug which is classified in this medication family which is called zileuton has been used all over the world.

Another drug that can be your alternative choice when you can’t take corticosteroids is mast cell stabilizers. Cromolyn sodium is one of the type of this medication, even though this mast cell stabilizers medications are actually had not been preferred by many.

Management of Delivery Methods of Asthma Medications

Asthma medications are usually provided in the form of metered-dose inhalers (MDIs). Typically, it is coming in combination with other asthma medication, such as an asthma spacer. But, there are a possibility that it is coming as a dry powder inhaler. As for asthma spacer, it is coming in the form of a plastic cylinder which mixes the asthma medication with air. Thus, it makes asthma sufferer receive a rightfully full perfect dose of the asthma drug in easy way.

Other than that, to deliver the asthma medications, people also can use nebulizer. Nebulizers and spacers are known to be equally effective. Specially when you use it to manage ans treat in asthma sufferers which have mild to moderate symptoms. However, there are still insufficient evidences that can prove if there are a significant difference which is exists when you use both of the tools in asthma sufferers with severe disease.

Adverse Effects in Taking Asthma Medication

There hasn’t been any report that stated about the adverse effect of fast-acting asthma medications. But, long-term control asthma medications have many adverse and side effects report. For example, even at conventional doses, long-term use of inhaled form of corticosteroids has believed to carry a minor risk of the increasing adverse effects. This adverse effect risks include the possibility of the development of cataracts in asthma sufferers, also a mild regression in their stature.

Common Nutrients Recommendation and Limitation for Asthmatic People

Nutrient recommendation for asthmatic people

Enough nutrients intake is needed for asthmatic people. It is due to their need to get the best health management in asthma, so that their signs and symptoms can be prevented and their condition will never become worse. Right Now, there are some nutrients which is advised for you to take them more in your diet. For example, there are high carotenoid food and high lycopene food.

Nutrients recommendation for asthmatic people: High carotenoid foods

For this case, in example, you are recommended to take more food with high content of carotenoids. The high carotenoid food usually contain beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is known as one of fat-soluble antioxidant. As a strong antioxidant, it can combat free radicals in the body. Thus, it will help in reducing the cause of contraction which is may happen in airway smooth muscles.

From high carotenoid food too, beta-carotene can be made into vitamin A by the body. Vitamin A is known as a good property of antioxidant, too. So, it has a big potential in helping you in managing your asthma.

Actually, there are many high carotenoid food in the world. You can find the easily, truly. Foods which are known as a good source of carotenoid are vegetable and fruits in yellow or orange color and green color. For example, you may find them in spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots, mango, melon, winter squash, and apricots.

Nutrients recommendation for asthmatic people: High lycopene food

High lycopene foods are one of the most important nutrient in your diet tips. Truly, if you want to manage your asthma intake, then step up your lycopene intake! Lycopene is known with its high antioxidant activity. As another type of carotenoid, lycopene has been reported to be significantly effective in helping at controlling asthma which has been induced by exercise. For you who want to add more lycopenes in your diet, don’t be worried. You can just add more tomatoes, pink grapefruit, apricots, pink guavas, and waterm
elon . Happy trying!

Nutrient limitation for asthmatic people

But, of course, not all nutrients must be consumed more in asthmatic people. There are some nutrients that has to be consumed in limitation. Some of that nutrients is omega-6 fats, dairy products, salt and high sodium products, food additives and food preservatives. Here are more detailed information for you.

Nutrient limitation for asthmatic people: Omega-6 fatty acids

Omega-6 fatty acids are known as one of the essential fatty acids (EFAs). This type of fatty acids must always be there in your diet as in a certain amount, this type of fatty acid has a crucial role to make sure the proper function of your healthy body. However, in asthmatic people, the condition is different. For your information, excessive amounts of these omega-6 fatty acids can be harmful for your body. Maybe, it is due to its ability that can help in producing inflammatory prostaglandins, by the type 2 prostaglandins. Thus, excessive intake of omega-6 fatty acids can make the inflammation in the body soared. Because of that, it is advised for you to reduce the intake of refined vegetable oils in your daily life. Refined vegetable oils have been known with its high omega-6 fatty acids which is not good for asthmatic people.

Nutrient limitation for asthmatic people: Eggs and dairy products

Intolerances and food allergies are often associated with asthma. Thus, sometimes asthmatic people are recommended to eat fewer foods which can trigger adverse reactions in their body. Even though intolerances and food allergies are an individual problem, but there are common foods that have to be taken in consideration for asthmatic people. Eggs and dairy products are one of them. Asthmatic people usually advised to limit eggs and dairy products consumption to prevent in making their asthma symptoms worse.

Nutrient limitation for asthmatic people: Salt and high sodium products

Salt and high sodium products are recommended to be consumed less for asthmatic people. It is supported with many studies that have shown that the regions that has a high salt consumption tend to always has a higher rates of asthma. Several studies also have suggested that there is an association between worsened asthma symptoms with high intakes of salt (sodium). It is due to its ability to make the airways to be more reactive to allergens.

Moreover, the excessive intake of salt (sodium) is believed to have ability to strip the potassium body . Potassium is known as a mineral that has a good association in improving lung function so it will help in reducing the incidence of asthma. Thus, it can make your condition to become worse. Because of that, always make sure to keep your salt intake in limitation. You have to make sure that you know about all “hidden salt (sodium)”. It means that you have to be aware in many processed and packaged foods, such as canned fruits and vegetables, commercial cereals and all types of frozen meals.

Nutrient limitation for asthmatic people: Food additives and food preservatives

Food additives and food preservatives are a big NO for asthmatic people. It is because some food additives and food preservatives have been reported with its ability to act as a strong asthma triggers in some people with asthma. Not only that, in the food additives and food preservatives, there are so many things which aren’t good for the body. Substances such as benzoates, sulfites, monosodium glutamate, and tartrazin, have the possibility that can worsen asthma signs and symptoms.

Benzoates usually used in various products, such as soft drinks and has been known as an antimicrobial preservative. Sulfites are usually used as food preservatives in many alcoholic beverages and packaged foods. Monosodium glutamate, or known as MSG, is one of well-known flavor enhancer which is often used in much processed food. You may find them in Chinese restaurant, too. Last, tartrazine has been used in many processed foods, such as butter, canned vegetables, candy, cereals, cheeses, chips, confectionery, instant soups, pastas, pickled products, rices, sauces and soft drinks, as, an artificial food. In the end, to make sure that you can avoid all of them, it would be better for you to eat organic food which hasn’t been processed.

Diet Plan for Asthma Sufferers

For you who has been an asthma sufferers, the best diet plan must be conducted to make sure that your asthma will never become worse. A healthy nutrition and diet plan will be a good way to help you in bringing an immediate relief for you who are having an asthma attack, Preventing and alleviating asthma signs and symptoms, such as coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing can be helped with this, too.

In your diet plan, you must include all the nutrients that you may need in managing asthma. Many nutrients must be included in your diet plan. Some important nutrients such as vitamin B6, vitamin E, ascorbic acid, rosmarinic acid, quercetin, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids must be available in your diet plan. It’s a good help for you who want to have a good management in asthma. For more detailed information, here are the composition for the best diet plan that you can take as an asthma sufferer.

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6, known as pyridoxine, has been known as a nutrient which has a vital role in asthma management. Foods which is rich in pyridoxine usually become the main component of anti-asthma diet. Usually, pyridoxine will be easily found in many ranges of foods. Banana has been one of the example of food which is rich in this vitamin.

Previous studies have stated that pyridoxine has the ability to reduce the frequency and intensity of asthma attacks dramatically. In this case, pyridoxine has a critical role in producing adenosine triphosphate (ATP). It is also a vital component in the production of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (CAMP). As CAMP is a molecule which has an ability to help in relaxing bronchial smooth muscle tissue, surely this pyridoxine will be a good addition in diet plan for asthma sufferers.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is known as a good antioxidant for your body. In asthma management, vitamin E is needed to help in alleviating asthma symptoms. With this vitamin, you can manage coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath well. For a good combination, it is recommended for you to consume vitamin E together with ascorbic acid. The usually work to protect each other and will become more effective if you use it together.

Ascorbic acid

Ascorbic acid has become another nutrients that can be left behind in diet plan for asthma management. Known as vitamin C, ascorbic acid has become a good tool in asthma management because of its strong antioxidant properties. In this case, ascorbic acid will help you in neutralizing free radicals effectively. As free radicals molecules are unstable, you may get a contraction in your airway smooth muscles. Thus, combating this free radicals will be a good way in managing your asthma.

Not only that, high levels of ascorbic acid has been known to reduce the release of histamine in the body. It will also help in breaking histamine, faster, too. As histamine is one of chemical which is produced in the body that has the ability to cause constriction on your smooth muscles and to increase inflammation in asthma sufferer, consuming enough ascorbic acid will help you better in managing it.

Rosmarinic acid

Rosmarinic acid also known with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Even now, it has been reported that rosmarinic acid has antioxidant activity which is superior to the antioxidant activities in vitamin E. Thus, this nutrient may has a big ability to help in alleviating asthma symptoms. In addition, rosmarinic acid also has the ability to encourage cells to create prostacyclins. Prostacyclins will help to keep the air passages in the lungs to be opened. Thus, you will get an easy breathing with it. As many culinary herbs has a high content of this rosmarinic acid, you don’t have to be worried in searching them. It is available in lemon balm, marjoram, oregano, peppermint, rosemary, sage and thyme.

Quercetin

Quercetin is one of the most well-known bioflavonoid in the world. It is known as a good anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine properties. It’s rich of antioxidant, too. Because of that, it is not a wonder if quercetin can help you in relieving asthma symptoms. It also can help you in managing the allergic symptoms which are happened in some of asthma sufferers. For you who want to get this bioflavonoid for your body, you don’t have to be worried as it is contained in wide range of foods. For example, you can find it in yellow and red onions, lavage, broccoli, capers, tea, apples, red grapes, citrus fruits, cherries, and all kind of berries, such as lingonberries, cranberries and raspberries.

Magnesium

Magnesium is known with its ability to help in relaxing the smooth muscle cells. Previous studies have reported that there is an association between magnesium intake and the decreased risk of asthma. Other studies which have been conducted have shown that a high dietary intake of magnesium has a correlation with a better lung function. It is shown that by increasing your intake of magnesium, it will reduce the frequency of wheezing in asthma sufferers. Thus it is not a wonder if a patient which has an acute asthma attack in a hospital will be treated by injecting magnesium to the vein directly, or known as intravenous magnesium treatment.

Potassium

Last but not the least, not only magnesium, it would be good if your diet plan also has enough potassium content. Potassium is known as another mineral that shown a good association with lung function. It also helps in reducing the incidence of asthma. To make sure that you get enough potassium, then you just have to make sure that your meal contains, at least, root vegetables or beans.

In the end, it can be concluded that asthma sufferers have to get enough nutrients to manage their asthma. Other than to have that good diet plan like above, there are some things that you have to avoid, too. Specially for food, it would be good for you, an asthma sufferer, to reduce your salt (sodium) intake. Food preservatives, food additives, dairy products and eggs must be consumed less. But, of course it would be better for you to ask your dietitian for more thorough information. Keep in your mind that you always have to seek for the help of professional medical practitioners in the best management for asthma that you can do.