HOW DO ASTHMA TREATMENTS WORK? Contributors: Jenna Rhone

Dear Mom, You seem to be having difficulty understanding how asthma treatments work, here I’m going to break that down for you.

What happens in the lungs to begin with ? Asthma causes constant swelling of the airways, constriction of the airways, and increased mucus within them. Genes in the body for increase inflammation and swelling are turned on in the body, when an individual has asthma. All of these factors make it difficult for the individual to breathe. When an individual is having an asthma flare up, or asthma attack, the airways constrict more, causing increased swelling as well. Not only this but the mucus cells begin to secrete more mucus in reaction to the swelling. When these problems with asthma arise, treatments are needed to counteract these issues.

Types There are two different types of asthma treatments, quick- relief and long term control medications.

Quick Relief Quick relief medications are used for when an individual is in crisis, and need immediate help breathing, like when they are exercising as we see in the picture. Any time that asthma flares up the bronchial tubes, within the lungs, swell and have a small airway that air can pass through, as shown on the left hand side. This makes it difficult for the individual to breathe.

How do quick relief medications work biologically ? Quick relief medications are inhaled for faster relief. Beta1- agonists are used in the medication, which are in the same family as adrenaline. This is why this drug is in quick relief medication. Because this medication is in the same family as adrenaline, the body is sent into an immediate shock, sending signals to the lungs to stop swelling. The medication binds to the cells in the swollen bronchial tubes, and gives immediate relief, stopping swelling, and allowing air to pass through with more space in the tube. However, this medication does not give any form of long term health benefits, it is only used in a crisis. It is inhaled through the mouth, sending the medication down through the lungs into the airways, immediately opening them up.

Long Term Long term medications are used to prevent asthma flare ups, and attacks, before the bronchial tubes begin to swell. These are typically anti- inflammatory mediations, and are taken in advance, before an asthma attack happens. They can be in the form of inhaler or pill.

How does Long Term Relief work biologically? Long term medications differ in the type of drug used in it. Long term medications are either taken in pill form, or used as an inhaler. These medications work over time, not rapidly like quick relief medications. Long term medications have corticosteroids in them, which prevent swelling in the lungs, but take days to work. Corticosteroids are a type of steroid that is inhaled, travels through the airways into the bronchial tubes, absorbing into the muscle tissue, and preventing inflammation. Corticosteroids are a type of anti- inflammatory steroid. When an individual has asthma the inflammatory genes are activated in the lungs. The steroids stop this inflammation with the glucocorticoid receptors and histone deacetylase-2 inside the medication. This regulates the inflammatory gene within the lungs, regulating the rate of inflammation in the best way possible. Bronchodilators are also used as a long term medication. These are inhaled, and as the name sounds they dilate the airways to make them larger so that air can pass through. The reason that this type of inhaler is not used as a quick relief drug, is because it takes up to 12 hours to work. These two treatments are typically used together, to use a combination treatment to prevent an individual from having to use the quick relief medications.

How do they do this? The asthma medications are used to stop the muscle tissue in airways from swelling, secreting more mucus, and constricting the airways. In both types of medications, the medications binds to the cells on top of the muscle tissue, that is swollen. When they bind together during this process, the muscles then relax, no longer being swollen, making it possible for the individual to breathe better. Both medications help the individual to breathe as easy and as well as they can.

Works Cited ■ How Do Asthma Medicines Work? (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2016, from ■ The author of the webpage is unknown, which makes it a little difficult to give the article a great deal of credibility. However, the article is reviewed, but not written by, Dr. Benn-Joseph. While for most a doctor writing an article would be deemed as credible, this does not stand a source of credibility. The author could’ve added to their credibility if they would’ve sited their sources. ■ The source is clearly not peer reviewed, as it is not a journal article. However, Nemours and Kids Health, the partners of the website have a great deal of credibility. Both organizations support a good deal of unbiased research, and are well known reputable sources. ■ Medium ■ Asthma. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2016, from disorders/asthma/asthmahttp:// disorders/asthma/asthma ■ The authors of the webpage Matthew C. Miles, MD, Stephen P. Peters, MD, PhD. They are both doctors and have a reputable background. However, this does not make them credible. The authors cite resources, not direct sources, that were used in the piece. This makes them both more credible, because we know that there were unbiased in their research, by using outside sources to back up the research that they are providing. The author would be more credible if we were able to see the direct sources used in the article. ■ The source is not peer reviewed, because it is obviously not a scientific journal article. However, the website Merck Manuals is a reputable cite, and the organization has done a great amount of reputable research, and the organization has been in existence and doing these things for over 100 years. However this does not stand for it’s credibility alone. ■ Medium