Airway management is a broad-based term that, in non-emergency health care, usually refers to allergy and asthma therapy. These airway management therapies include short-term (or rescue) medications and long-term medications.
Short-term medications treat symptoms once they occur. They include bronchodilator medications that relax the bronchial smooth muscles that control the airways into and through the lungs. Short-acting inhaled medications are taken as needed to relieve immediate symptoms.
Long-term medications include anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator medications that help prevent symptoms from occurring by treating airway inflammation and airway obstruction.
Corticosteroids applied via inhalers are taken daily to prevent symptoms and keep asthma under control. Sometimes, oral corticosteroids are used longer term to control severe chronic asthma. Short courses of oral corticosteroids are used to help reverse the increased inflammation of a severe acute episode, speed recovery and prevent recurrence.
For more information, or to schedule an appointment, contact us at 541-706-5860 today.
From allergy tests to medication prescription to life-style advice, the specialists at the St. Charles Pulmonary Clinic offer Central Oregon a wide range of pulmonary services.
Sources: NIH.com, American Association for Respiratory Care
