Asthma

Asthma is a condition that causes tightening (constriction) of the small air passages in your lungs. People with asthma sometimes find it hard to breathe, and often cough, wheeze, or feel short of breath.

If you have asthma, the small airways in your lungs can suddenly narrow, making it hard to catch your breath. Your lungs may also produce excess mucus, contributing to your breathing difficulties. Asthma can trigger coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest. During an asthma attack, the muscles surrounding your airways contract and spasm in an attempt to expel the mucus that is blocking your airways. You will be short of breath, and may wheeze and cough excessively.

Several asthma medicines on the market offer both quick relief and long-term control over your condition.

Common medications include:

• Quick-relief medication: Often used in quick-relief inhalers (rescue inhalers) and other devices, these medicines dilate airways and improve symptoms immediately.

• Long-term control medications: Taken as tablets or syrup, or used in preventer inhalers, these medicines support persistent asthma patients who need help with ongoing symptoms.

• Combination asthma medicine: These drugs combine quick relief and long-term therapy into a single treatment.

• Biologics: These treatments help people with severe, persistent asthma address their symptoms and manage their condition.

Asthma medications come as oral tablets or syrup that you should take by mouth, or a liquid you breathe in using an inhaler, atomizer, or nebulizer machine.

You can chat with one of our doctors on Cedars-Sinai Connect to learn more about treatment and same-day prescriptions.