Ask a Doctor
My young son has asthma. He was diagnosed a month ago, and it seems like we’ve been in a whirlwind of treatments, doctor visits and buying vaporizers and inhalers. This has been a big inconvenience for our family, but more importantly, I hate to see my little boy suffer asthma attacks and go through all this medical stuff. Is there a cure for asthma? Can you get rid of it?
Doctor's Response
Asthma technically cannot be cured, but it can be well managed. In asthma, the airways react to different irritants – called triggers - such as viruses, allergens, pollutants, and exercise. This irritation causes airway inflammation and symptoms such as wheezing, cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
For many people, avoiding triggers can help minimize airway irritation and prevent asthma attacks. There are also many different medications that can help prevent inflammation including mast cell stabilizers, leukotriene modifiers, and corticosteroids. In addition, medications are available that can often help relieve symptoms rapidly once they start.
