Most people are able to achieve asthma control by taking 1 or 2
puffs of a controller medicine containing an inhaled steroid
(such as Flovent and Pulmicort) 1 to 2 times a day. The steroids
work over time to reduce inflammation in the airways and prevent
permanant damage to the lungs. In addition, many people
occassionally use a bronchodilator (such as Xopenex, also known
as short-acting bronchodilators), to prevent exercise-induced
attacks and to relieve the symptoms of an oncoming asthma
attack. (It's important to note that inhaled steroids DO NOT
immediately relieve asthma symptoms. Likewise, bronchodilators
DO NOT relieve inflammation in the airways.) But for people who
have severe persistent asthma, an inhaled steroid is often not
enough. Yes it helps, but it doesn't bring about consistent
and/or complete asthma control. These people will often benefit
greatly from taking a long-acting beta agonist (such as Serevent
or Foradil) in addition to the inhaled steroid. What's a beta
agonist? It's a bronchodila