| Many patients with asthma suffer the most in the | | | | the airway even further. Put it all together and you |
| winter months. Wheezing, coughing, shortness of | | | | can see why asthmatics may have difficulty |
| breath, all of these symptoms may be worse during | | | | recovering from viruses. |
| the winter. Why is that? The answer is as common | | | | As an allergist, it's my job to help prevent this type |
| as the common cold. Not only are we entering the | | | | of reaction, and to treat it quickly once identified. |
| holiday season, we're entering the virus season. As | | | | This is done in 2 basic ways. First, patients with |
| children return to school and the weather cools a bit, | | | | asthma must have a rescue medication. The most |
| viruses become much more common. Children | | | | common rescue medication is Albuterol, which comes |
| congregate at daycare centers, in schools, and adults | | | | as an inhaler or via nebulizer and mask. Albuterol |
| congregate at work. This allows viruses to spread | | | | works within minutes to relax the muscles that are |
| more readily. | | | | squeezing the airways. This allows more air to flow, |
| How are viruses and asthma connected? When we | | | | and patients often feel much better. Unfortunately, |
| become infected with a common cold, our body | | | | Albuterol only works for 4-6 hours at a time. How |
| responds rapidly. Within hours our body begins | | | | can we prevent these reactions from occurring in the |
| fighting back, but it takes 7-10 days for most people | | | | first place? The answer is with anti-inflammatory |
| to recover from a cold. Unfortunately, the recovery | | | | medications. |
| can take much longer for people with asthma. This is | | | | Anti-inflammatory medications for asthma come in |
| because asthmatics are more likely to develop | | | | several different forms, but the most common and |
| inflammation in their lungs. Inflammation is the | | | | most effective medications are inhaled steroids. |
| response of the body to harmful stimuli commonly | | | | These medications work within hours to days to |
| known as pathogens. Asthmatics develop a much | | | | decrease the swelling that surrounds the airways and |
| stronger inflammatory response in the lungs when | | | | decrease the production of mucous. In addition, using |
| exposed to a virus. These viruses can trigger swelling | | | | inhaled steroids makes Albuterol even more effective |
| of the tissue surrounding our airways, making it more | | | | as a rescue medication. By combining Albuterol and |
| difficult for air to pass. In addition, asthmatics | | | | inhaled steroids, one can see how all aspects of |
| produce more mucous in their lungs, and the muscles | | | | asthma are treated. |
| that surround their airways may contract, squeezing | | | | |