Causes And Risk Factors Of Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary refers to the major arteries and blood vessels that supply blood, oxygen and other nutrients to the heart. Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is a complicated condition of these major arteries and blood vessels in which the arteries of the heart become tough and rigid due to the accumulation of a waxy cholesterol-containing substance called “plague”. This condition may lead to severe fatal results because the plague deposit will cause the arteries and blood vessels to narrow causing decreased blood flow to the heart and resulting in severe chest pain, shortness of breath, and eventually a heart attack. Cholesterol is one of the biggest cause of Coronary Heart Disease. The process of plague deposit is called atherosclerosis and plague or fatty deposits are called atheroma. In this article we will discuss the causes and risk factors of Coronary Heart Disease.  

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Atheroma (Waxy Cholesterol Plague), Biggest Cause and Risk Factor Of Coronary Heart Disease 

Why Does Coronary Heart Disease Happens:

Because Coronary Heart Disease is caused by the plague deposit in the major blood vessels that supply blood, oxygen and other nutrients to the heart, it is mostly caused by the lifestyle of a particular person such as:

• ·         Smoking
• ·         Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
• ·         Diabetes
• ·         High Cholesterol
• ·         Sedentary lifestyle

Causes & Risk Factors of Coronary Heart Disease:

Coronary heart disease is caused by the deposit of atheroma (fatty cholesterol plague) in the major blood vessels that supply nutrients to the heart, however, it is supposed to begin with damage or injury to the internal layer of a coronary artery, sometime in childhood. The damage to the inner layer have variety of controllable and uncontrollable reasons including:

• High blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels
• Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
• Diabetes
• Overweight and Obesity
• Smoking
• Lack of Physical Activity
• Unhealthy Diet
• Stress

Uncontrollable causes of Coronary Heart Disease Include:

• Age
• Gender
• Family History of Coronary Heart Disease

The damage to the inner wall of coronary artery is a complicated situation. Once the internal wall of coronary artery is damaged, the cholesterol and other cellular based atheroma (fatty plague) starts accumulating the artery (atherosclerosis), thus causing narrowing of artery and if somehow, the plague ruptures, then platelets (blood clotting cells) try to repair and clump the site of injury. This clot of blood in the artery may block the artery completely and thus causing heart attack.   

Risk Factors of Coronary Heart Disease:

There are many risk factors and causes of coronary heart disease. Some are controllable and some are uncontrollable. The major causes and risk factors of coronary heart disease are High Blood Cholesterol Level, Smoking, Obesity, Diabetes. Explanation of the risk factors of Coronary Heart Disease are as follows:

High Blood Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels:

Cholesterol and its derivatives are important constituents of cell membranes but their high concentration in blood are thought to promote atherosclerosis (deposit of cholesterol based fatty plague in coronary arteries) and heart attack.

Lipoproteins are of a group of soluble proteins that combine with and transport fat or other lipids in the blood plasma. Cholesterol is carried in bloodstream by the lipoproteins. Lipoproteins are of two types:

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL): 

Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol is referred as Bad Cholesterol on the grounds that it receives cholesterol from liver and transport it to cells, tissues and blood vessels including your heart supply routes. A high level of Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol raises the danger of Coronary Heart Disease.

High-Density lipoproteins (HDL): 

High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol is referred as Good Cholesterol as it helps in removing and breakdown of Cholesterol by bringing back cholesterol from different cells, tissues and blood vessels back to liver where it is broken down. A low level of High Density Lipoprotein cholesterol raises the danger of Coronary Heart Disease.

Good and healthy levels of both Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol will inhibit atheroma (plaque) from building up in your blood vessels especially coronary arteries. 

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure):  

High blood pressure or circulatory strain is the power of blood pushing against the arteries as your heart pumps blood. Uncontrollable high blood pressure may result in rigidity, thinking and narrowing of coronary arteries thus causing an increased risk of Coronary Heart Disease. All levels above 120/80 mmHg raise your danger of Coronary Heart Disease.

Diabetes (High Blood Sugar Level):

Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism which causes excessive thirst and the production of large amounts of urine. It is a condition in which the body's blood glucose level raises too high. As High Blood Sugar Level doesn’t directly affect the risk of Coronary Heart Disease (if the person is not diabetic), however, high blood sugar level may lead to Diabetes which double the risk for developing Coronary Heart Disease. Diabetes are of two types:

Type 1 Diabetes: 

This is also called as Juvenile Diabetes or Insulin Dependent Diabetes. In Type 1 Diabetes, the body's blood glucose level is too much high because body’s pancreas doesn't make enough insulin. Insulin is a hormone that moves glucose molecules into cells, where it's utilized for energy.

Type 2 Diabetes: 

It is also called as Diabetes Mellitus. In Type 2 Diabetes, the body have a high glucose level because of insulin resistance and lack of insulin.

A high blood glucose level can prompt plaque deposit (atherosclerosis) in coronary arteries which results in thickness, narrowing and rigidity of coronary arteries thus causing coronary heart disease.

Obesity (Overweight):

The state of being fat and overweight is called as obesity. Being obese worsen the other risk factors for developing coronary heart disease because overweight or obesity causes increased high blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Smoking (Exposure to Tobacco):

Smoking is the habit of inhaling and exhaling the smoke of tobacco or a drug. Smoking is the biggest cause or Coronary Heart Disease because chemicals in the cigarettes damages the internal layers of coronary arteries which triggers the development of plaque (atheroma) in arteries. Smoking additionally upsurge the danger of blood clumps in blood vessels especially coronary arteries. Blood clot may result in heart attach if the artery is blocked by a blood clump.

Other risk factors of coronary heart disease like lack of physical activity, unhealthy diet and stress link to above major risk factors of coronary heart disease. Lack of physical activity, stress and unhealthy diet result in increased cholesterol level and high blood pressure which triggers the development of atheroma (fatty cholesterol based plague) in coronary arteries which results in narrowing, thinking and hardness of blood vessels causing Coronary Heart Disease.    

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Causes And Complications Of Alcoholic Use Disorder (Alcoholism)

Alcoholism is also known as alcohol use disorder (AUD) and alcohol dependence syndrome, is a broad term for any drinking of alcohol that results in harms and complications. It is a pattern of alcohol use that involves a person drinking large amounts of alcohol, face problems controlling your drinking, being preoccupied with alcohol, alcohol is strongly desired or continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems, usage results in social and health problems, having to drink more to get the same effect, or having withdrawal symptoms when you rapidly decrease or stop drinking. It also includes binge drinking — a pattern of drinking where a male consumes five or more drinks within two hours or a female downs at least four drinks within two hours. Binge drinking causes significant health and safety risks.

You likely to have alcohol use syndrome if your pattern of drinking results in repeated significant distress and problems functioning in your daily life. It can range from mild to severe. However, even a mild disorder can escalate and lead to serious problems, so early treatment is important.

Alcoholism Causes

A mixture of genetic, psychological, social and environmental factors causes the risk of the development of alcoholism. Genes that influence the metabolism of alcohol also influence the risk of alcoholism, and may be indicated by a family history of alcoholism. Drinking too much alcohol may change the normal function of the areas of your brain associated with the experience of pleasure, judgment and the ability to exercise control over your behavior.

Risk Factors

Risk factors for alcohol use disorder include:

Drinking and Family: A person with a parent or sibling with alcoholism are three to four times more likely to be alcoholic themselves. This may be influenced by genetic factors.

Mental Health Problems: People having high stress levels, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (a mental condition marked by alternating periods of elation and depression) are more likely to be at alcoholic syndrome risk.

Social and Cultural Factors: These include social, cultural, and behavioral influences. Having friends or a close partner who drinks regularly could increase your risk of alcohol use disorder.

Alcoholism Complications

Alcohol use can affect all parts of the body but particularly affects the brain, heart, liver, pancreas, and immune system. It depresses your brain and initial reaction may be stimulation or sedated.

Too much alcohol consumption affects your speech, muscle coordination and vital centers of your brain and can cause mental illness, Wernicke Korsakoff syndrome, an irregular heartbeat, liver failure, increased risk of cancer and even causes a life-threatening coma or death. It also causes social problem which include:

Relationship Problems

• Poor performance at work
• Increased chances of being the victim of a crime
• Legal problems or problems with employment
• Problems with other substance use
• Engaging in risky, unprotected sex, or becoming the victim of sexual abuse or date rape
• Increased risk of attempted or completed suicide

Health Complications Include

Liver Problems: Alcohol can cause inflammation and increased fat in the liver (alcoholic hepatitis), and over time, irreversible destruction and scarring of liver tissue (cirrhosis).

Digestive System Complications: Alcohol drinking can cause esophageal ulcers and inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis). It also can hinder with absorption of vitamins and other nutrients. It is also marked with inflammation and pancreas damage (pancreatitis).

Heart Problems: Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to hypertension and increases your risk of an enlarged heart, heart failure or stroke. Even a single binge can cause a serious heart arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation.

Sexual Complications: Excessive drinking can interrupt menstruation in women and can cause erectile dysfunction in men.

Worsen Your Diabetes: Alcohol drinking can aggravate your diabetic complication as components in alcohol interfere with the release of glucose from your liver and can increase the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). This is dangerous if you have diabetes and are already taking insulin to lower your blood sugar level. 

Bone Problems: Alcohol consumption can cause thinning of bones (osteoporosis) thus creating an increased risk of fractures. Your blood cells production can also be hindered as alcohol can also damage bone marrow. This can cause a low platelet count, which may result in bruising and bleeding.

Nervous System Complications: Excessive alcohol drinking can affect your nervous system, causing numbness and pain in your hands and feet, disordered thinking, dementia, and short-term memory loss.

Cancer Problems: Mouth, liver, colon and breast cancer has been linked with long-term excessive alcohol use. Even moderate drinking can increase the risk of breast cancer.

Other problems include birth defects like miscarriages, eye problems like involuntary rapid eye movement (nystagmus) as well as weakness and paralysis of your eye muscles and weakened immune system.

What Are The Symptoms Of Alcoholic Use Syndrome (Alcoholism)

Alcoholism is also known as alcohol use disorder (AUD) and alcohol dependencesyndrome, is a broad term for any drinking of alcohol that results in harms and complications. It is a pattern of alcohol use that involves a person drinking large amounts of alcohol, face problems controlling your drinking, being preoccupied with alcohol, alcohol is strongly desired or continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems, usage results in social and health problems, having to drink more to get the same effect, or having withdrawal symptoms when you rapidly decrease or stop drinking. It also includes binge drinking — a pattern of drinking where a male consumes five or more drinks within two hours or a female downs at least four drinks within two hours. Binge drinking causes significant health and safety risks.

You likely to have alcohol use syndrome if your pattern of drinking results in repeated significant distress and problems functioning in your daily life. It can range from mild to severe. However, even a mild disorder can escalate and lead to serious problems, so early treatment is important.

Alcoholism Symptoms

Alcohol use disorder can be mild, moderate or severe. The risk of alcohol dependence begins at low levels of drinking and increases directly with both the volume of alcohol consumed and a pattern of drinking larger amounts on an occasion.  A depressed mood is a common symptom. Signs and symptoms may include:

• Being unable to limit the amount of alcohol you drink
• Wanting to cut down on how much you drink or making unsuccessful attempts to do so
• Spending a lot of time drinking, getting alcohol or recovering from alcohol use
• Feeling a strong craving or urge to drink alcohol
• Failing to fulfill major obligations at work, school or home due to repeated alcohol use
• Continuing to drink alcohol even though you know it's causing physical, social or interpersonal problems
• Giving up or reducing social and work activities and hobbies
• Using alcohol in situations where it's not safe, such as when driving or swimming
• Developing a tolerance to alcohol so you need more to feel its effect or you have a reduced effect from the same amount
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms — such as nausea, sweating and shaking — when you don't drink, or drinking to avoid these symptoms

Long-term alcohol abuse can cause a number of physical symptoms, including cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, epilepsy, polyneuropathy (a general degeneration of peripheral nerves that spreads towards the centre of the body), alcoholic dementia, heart disease, nutritional deficiencies, peptic ulcers and sexual dysfunction, and can eventually be fatal.

Women develop long-term complications of alcohol dependence more rapidly than men and have a higher mortality rate from alcoholism than men. Long-term complications include brain, heart, liver damage and an increased risk of breast cancer. Heavy drinking over time has been found to have a negative effect on reproductive functioning in women. This results in reproductive dysfunction such as anovulation (decreased ovarian mass), irregularity of the menstrual cycle, and early menopause.

What is Alcoholism (Alcoholic Use Syndrome) What Are Alcoholism Symptoms, Causes, Complications, Treatment And Prevention

Alcoholic Use Disorder

Alcoholism is also known as alcohol use disorder (AUD) and alcohol dependence syndrome, is a broad term for any drinking of alcohol that results in harms and complications. It is a pattern of alcohol use that involves a person drinking large amounts of alcohol, face problems controlling your drinking, being preoccupied with alcohol, alcohol is strongly desired or continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems, usage results in social and health problems, having to drink more to get the same effect, or having withdrawal symptoms when you rapidly decrease or stop drinking. It also includes binge drinking — a pattern of drinking where a male consumes five or more drinks within two hours or a female downs at least four drinks within two hours. Binge drinking causes significant health and safety risks.

You likely to have alcohol use syndrome if your pattern of drinking results in repeated significant distress and problems functioning in your daily life. It can range from mild to severe. However, even a mild disorder can escalate and lead to serious problems, so early treatment is important.

Alcoholism Symptoms

Alcohol use disorder can be mild, moderate or severe. The risk of alcohol dependence begins at low levels of drinking and increases directly with both the volume of alcohol consumed and a pattern of drinking larger amounts on an occasion.  A depressed mood is a common symptom. Signs and symptoms may include:

• Being unable to limit the amount of alcohol you drink
• Wanting to cut down on how much you drink or making unsuccessful attempts to do so
• Spending a lot of time drinking, getting alcohol or recovering from alcohol use
• Feeling a strong craving or urge to drink alcohol
• Failing to fulfill major obligations at work, school or home due to repeated alcohol use
• Continuing to drink alcohol even though you know it's causing physical, social or interpersonal problems
• Giving up or reducing social and work activities and hobbies
• Using alcohol in situations where it's not safe, such as when driving or swimming
• Developing a tolerance to alcohol so you need more to feel its effect or you have a reduced effect from the same amount
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms — such as nausea, sweating and shaking — when you don't drink, or drinking to avoid these symptoms

Long-term alcohol abuse can cause a number of physical symptoms, including cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, epilepsy, polyneuropathy (a general degeneration of peripheral nerves that spreads towards the centre of the body), alcoholic dementia, heart disease, nutritional deficiencies, peptic ulcers and sexual dysfunction, and can eventually be fatal.

Women develop long-term complications of alcohol dependence more rapidly than men and have a higher mortality rate from alcoholism than men. Long-term complications include brain, heart, liver damage and an increased risk of breast cancer. Heavy drinking over time has been found to have a negative effect on reproductive functioning in women. This results in reproductive dysfunction such as anovulation (decreased ovarian mass), irregularity of the menstrual cycle, and early menopause.

Alcoholism Causes

A mixture of genetic, psychological, social and environmental factors causes the risk of the development of alcoholism. Genes that influence the metabolism of alcohol also influence the risk of alcoholism, and may be indicated by a family history of alcoholism. Drinking too much alcohol may change the normal function of the areas of your brain associated with the experience of pleasure, judgment and the ability to exercise control over your behavior.

Risk Factors

Risk factors for alcohol use disorder include:

Drinking and Family: A person with a parent or sibling with alcoholism are three to four times more likely to be alcoholic themselves. This may be influenced by genetic factors.

Mental Health Problems: People having high stress levels, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (a mental condition marked by alternating periods of elation and depression) are more likely to be at alcoholic syndrome risk.

Social and Cultural Factors: These include social, cultural, and behavioral influences. Having friends or a close partner who drinks regularly could increase your risk of alcohol use disorder.

Alcoholism Complications

Alcohol use can affect all parts of the body but particularly affects the brain, heart, liver, pancreas, and immune system. It depresses your brain and initial reaction may be stimulation or sedated.

Too much alcohol consumption affects your speech, muscle coordination and vital centers of your brain and can cause mental illness, Wernicke Korsakoff syndrome, an irregular heartbeat, liver failure, increased risk of cancer and even causes a life-threatening coma or death. It also causes social problem which include:

Relationship Problems

• Poor performance at work
• Increased chances of being the victim of a crime
• Legal problems or problems with employment
• Problems with other substance use
• Engaging in risky, unprotected sex, or becoming the victim of sexual abuse or date rape
• Increased risk of attempted or completed suicide

Health Complications Include

Liver Problems: Alcohol can cause inflammation and increased fat in the liver (alcoholic hepatitis), and over time, irreversible destruction and scarring of liver tissue (cirrhosis).

Digestive System Complications: Alcohol drinking can cause esophageal ulcers and inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis). It also can hinder with absorption of vitamins and other nutrients. It is also marked with inflammation and pancreas damage (pancreatitis).

Heart Problems: Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to hypertension and increases your risk of an enlarged heart, heart failure or stroke. Even a single binge can cause a serious heart arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation.

Sexual Complications: Excessive drinking can interrupt menstruation in women and can cause erectile dysfunction in men.

Worsen Your Diabetes: Alcohol drinking can aggravate your diabetic complication as components in alcohol interfere with the release of glucose from your liver and can increase the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). This is dangerous if you have diabetes and are already taking insulin to lower your blood sugar level.

Bone Problems: Alcohol consumption can cause thinning of bones (osteoporosis) thus creating an increased risk of fractures. Your blood cells production can also be hindered as alcohol can also damage bone marrow. This can cause a low platelet count, which may result in bruising and bleeding.

Nervous System Complications: Excessive alcohol drinking can affect your nervous system, causing numbness and pain in your hands and feet, disordered thinking, dementia, and short-term memory loss.

Cancer Problems: Mouth, liver, colon and breast cancer has been linked with long-term excessive alcohol use. Even moderate drinking can increase the risk of breast cancer.

Other problems include birth defects like miscarriages, eye problems like involuntary rapid eye movement (nystagmus) as well as weakness and paralysis of your eye muscles and weakened immune system.

Alcoholism Treatment

Stopping alcohol consumption can treat alcoholic syndrome but this is very difficult for alcoholism patient. So, treatment for alcoholism includes:

Detoxification: Alcohol detoxification is an abrupt stop of alcohol drinking coupled with the substitution of drugs, such as benzodiazepines, that have similar effects to prevent alcohol withdrawal. You may need to take sedating medications to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Psychological Counseling: Various forms of group therapy or psychotherapy can be used to deal with underlying psychological issues that are related to alcohol addiction, as well as provide relapse prevention skills. You may benefit from couples or family therapy — family support is an important part of the recovery process.

Medications: A drug called disulfiram (Antabuse) may help to prevent you from drinking, although it won't cure alcohol use disorder or remove the compulsion to drink. Acamprosate (Campral) may help you combat alcohol cravings once you stop drinking by stabilize the brain chemistry that is altered due to alcohol dependence via antagonizing the actions of glutamate (a neurotransmitter which is hyperactive in the post-withdrawal phase). Naltrexone is used to decrease cravings for alcohol and encourage abstinence. It blocks the good feelings that alcohol causes. When naltrexone is in the body there is a reduction in the pleasurable effects from consuming alcohol because alcohol causes the body to release endorphins, which in turn release dopamine and activate the reward pathways hence, naltrexone reduces good feeling, alcohol causes. Vivitrol, a version of the drug naltrexone, is injected once a month.

Health Conditions: Alcohol causes many other health problems. If you have depression, anxiety or any other mental health condition, you should take psychotherapy, medications or other treatment.

Change Your Lifestyle: Make it clear to your friends and family that you're not drinking alcohol. Develop healthy habits like take good sleep, regular physical activity, managing stress more effectively and eating well all can make it easier for you to recover from alcohol use disorder.

Prevention

The world health organization, the European Union and other regional bodies, national governments and parliaments have formed alcohol policies in order to reduce the harm of alcoholism. Parents should watch their teens and be alert to signs and symptoms as early intervention can prevent alcoholism. Signs and symptoms are:

• Loss of interest in activities and hobbies
• Bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, problems with coordination and memory lapses
• Difficulties or changes in relationship with friends, such as joining new groups
• Declining grades and problems in school or work
• Frequent mood swings and defensive behavior 

What Is Asthma? What Are Asthma Symptoms, Causes, Treatments And Prevention

Asthma is a respiratory condition which is characterized by attacks of spasm (contraction) in bronchi of lungs with increased productivity of sticky secretions which causes extreme difficulty in breathing. Due to inflammation of lungs’ tube and sticky secretions, they get obstructed, hence creating difficulty in breathing.

Comparison of Normal Airway VS Asthmatic Airway Vs Asthmatic Airway During Attack

Asthma Symptoms

People suffering from asthma may experience following symptoms:

Symptoms of Asthma

• Shortness of breathing (difficulty in breathing)
• Audible wheeze (whistling sound that produces due to inflammation or mucus buildup in bronchial tubes)
• Coughing
• Chest tightness and pain

Everyone suffering from asthma doesn’t have exactly the same symptoms as above at the same time. You may have different symptoms at different times. Your asthma symptoms may also vary from one asthma attack to the next, being mild during one and severe during another.

Mild asthma attacks are more common. The airways remain open a few minutes to few hours. Severs attacks are less common but last longer and require immediate medical help.

Following are some of the early symptoms of asthma:

• Frequent coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Tiredness
• Coughing or wheezing
• Moody, grouchy
• Decrease in lung function
• Signs of cold
• Trouble sleeping

Caution: Any asthma symptom is serious and can become deadly if left untreated.

Causes of Asthma

Well, there is no actual know cause of asthma. The causes of asthma vary from one person to another. When you get asthma attack, you get spasms of muscles around your airways, inflammation of bronchial tubes and filling with mucus.

Asthma frequently runs in families and is closely associated with hayfever and eczema. It is essentially caused by an allergic type of reaction of the immune system. Sometimes the irritants which set off the reaction are not strictly allergens but chemical irritants, for example smoke and fumes.

Some substances usually trigger asthma are:

• Allergy can cause asthma as cells present in lungs react to various irritants like house dust, pet fur, pollens. Chemical irritants can also trigger asthma as cigarette smoke, factory pollutants, aerosol sprays, household cleansers and car exhausts. So, allergy can cause asthma.
• Certain medication including aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, beta blockers
• Preservatives added to some kind of foods including shrimp, dried fruit, and processed potatoes
• Respiratory infections
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (condition in which stomach acid backs into throat)

In families having strong history asthma, the genes which cause asthma are probably there from birth but the condition is triggered by outside factors like house dust, smoke, severe infection and exposure to irritant chemicals etc.

Asthma Treatment

Word treatment refers to prevention and long-term control of disease. In Asthma treatment, your physician first recognizes your triggers; track your breathing, then take steps to curb it. In outbreak of asthma, you may use a quick relief inhaler albuterol.

This is How You Can Manage Your Asthma

Steroids and Other Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Inhaled steroids are anti-inflammatory, lifesaving drugs for asthma patients who prevent asthma attacks and reduce swelling and mucus production in bronchial tubes resulting in less sensitiveness of airways to asthma triggers.  These anti-inflammatory drugs include fluticasone (Flovent HFA), budesonide (Pulmicort Flexhaler), flunisolide (Aerobid), ciclesonide (Alvesco), beclomethasone (Qvar) and mometasone (Asmanex).

Asthma Inhalers

Asthma inhalers are used to deliver asthma drugs directly to the lungs. Some inhalers deliver one drug while some deliver two medications. Fluticasone-salmeterol (Advair Diskus), budesonide-formoterol (Symbicort) and mometasone-formoterol (Dulera) — contain a long-acting beta agonist along with a corticosteroid.

Long-Acting Beta Agonists

These are inhalers which include salmeterol (Serevent) and formoterol (Foradil, Perforomist). They open up airways but some researches have shown that they may increase the risk of severe asthma attack so take them only in combination with inhaled corticosteroid.

Short-Acting Beta Agonists

These quick-relief bronchodilators (inhalers) act within minutes to ease symptoms during an asthma attack. They include albuterol (ProAir HFA, Ventolin HFA, others), levalbuterol (Xopenex) and pirbuterol (Maxair). Short-acting beta agonists can be taken using a portable, hand-held inhaler or a nebulizer — a machine that converts asthma medications to a fine mist — so that they can be inhaled through a face mask or a mouthpiece.

Consult Your Asthma Specialist

Asthma is a common disease but it is a serious condition that demands a proper medical diagnosis and targeted asthma treatment. If you’ve been diagnosed with asthma but your treatment doesn’t work, then you need to consult your doctor very soon. You may need to change your asthma medication for better control. Talk to your doctor for asthma support and find the asthma drugs that work best for you.

Asthma Prevention

Yes, it is possible to prevent asthma if you avoid asthma triggers. If complete avoidance of trigger factors is impossible for you then you can take following measures:

• If you smoke, then stop it immediately
• Avoid house dust, smoke, irritants
• Avoid chemical irritants, car exhaust