Do you have asthma? If so, you are all too familiar with the wheezing, shortness of breath, and general breathing difficulties this chronic lung disease causes. Severe cases of asthma can be debilitating and cause major problems, such as excessive days of missed school or work. Even the most minor cases of this lung disease are irritating to sufferers and can limit their daily activities.
Asthma Costs $60 Billion Annually
Asthma isn’t just hard on a person’s body; it is also hard on the global healthcare budget. “Researchers estimate asthma-related costs, including the direct cost of healthcare and indirect costs such as decreased worker productivity, at around $60 billion annually,” stated the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Asthma sufferers should know that getting their condition treated and under control is key to reducing healthcare costs and increasing their quality of life.
Long- and Short-term Asthma Medications
Individuals with asthma have a slew of treatment options available to them. First and foremost, these individuals should visit an allergist who may prescribe a long-term asthma medication. Mayo Clinic staff wrote,
“Long-term asthma control medications, generally taken daily, are the cornerstone of asthma treatment. Types of long-term control medications include inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, long-acting beta agonists, combination inhalers, and theophylline.”
Short-term medications like rescue inhalers and oral corticosteroids are also important in the treatment of more severe cases of asthma.
Physiotherapy: a Powerful Treatment for Asthma
While it’s crucial that asthmatics are evaluated by an allergist, they should also consider the benefits of physiotherapy. Physiotherapists are highly skilled at working with people having asthma. Physiotherapists help asthmatics by…
- Teaching them to breathe in a more relaxed way.
- Retraining their breathing.
- Coaching them on getting coughing, wheezing, and excess mucous under control.
- Teaching them to be more physically active, but not to the point of triggering asthma symptoms.
One of the best things about physiotherapy is that it is a drug-free treatment for asthma. Certainly, asthmatics may need to use medications in conjunction with physiotherapy. However, physiotherapy has been known to decrease the amount of drugs a patient needs to cope with asthma over time.
Related Reading: Physiotherapy Treats Pain, Depression, and Respiratory Problems
A physiotherapist is a great addition to any asthma treatment team. If you have asthma and live near Winnipeg, reach out to the friendly physiotherapists at Elite Sports Injury Physiotherapy Clinics for help managing your condition.
Questions to ask:
- “Is my asthma controlled and my quality of life what I want it to be?”
- “Have I discussed long- and short-term asthma medication options with an allergist?”
- “Do I want to get additional information about drug-free treatments for asthma from a physiotherapist?”