Systemic and Topical Medications in Asthma
- Thursday, July 30, 2009, 22:35
- Asthma
- 368 views
Andrew:
We’ve certainly covered so much ground here talking about what asthma is and why asthma has been on the increase. I might ask you, though, to define asthma a little bit for us. What’s going on in our lungs–or airway–when we have asthma? Is it just swelling?
Dr. Shapiro:
It’s swelling of the air tubes and tightening of the muscles, and increased production of mucous by the little glands that are mucous-producers.
Andrew:
Okay. So if we had an image of our lungs, when we are having severe asthma, it’s big and red and swollen.
Dr. Shapiro:
Right.
Andrew:
Could you please explain the difference between inhaled and oral corticosteroids? You used the word “topical”–in other words, applying it right to the lungs and the airway–is that preferable to an oral medication that we think of as systemic?
Dr. Shapiro:
For an acute episode, for just a really bad time with a bad cold, the oral gets into the system and is often necessary. But for typical care on an ongoing basis we much prefer the inhaled agent where the medication gets just to the lungs without causing the side-effects in other places. We get much more benefit without the adverse possibilities.
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