For asthma medicines, many doctors broadly use and support The Expert panel report 2: Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma (EPR-2) of the U.S. National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, and the British guideline on the management of asthma.

According to the guidelines, bronchodilators are very effective for short-term relief in all patients. No other medication is needed for patients who experience occasional attacks. Low-dose inhaled glucocorticoids or alternatively, an oral leukotriened modifier, a mast-cell stabilizer, or theophylline may be given to asthmatics with mild persistent disease (more than two attacks a week).

A higher dose of glucocorticoid in conjunction with a long-acting inhaled B-2 agonist or alternatively, theophylline, or leukotriene modifier is prescribed to the asthmatics who suffer asthma attacks daily. During severe attacks oral glucocorticoids can be added to these treatments.

There are some side effects associated with these medicines. Most common of them are:

Sore throat
Nervousness
Nausea
Rapid heartbeat
Loss of appetite
Staying awake

Immediately consult your doctor if you feel any of the above conditions during or after the use of the medicines. The doctor may want to change your dose.

There are asthma patients in whom exercise can trigger an asthma attack. This is called exercise-induced asthma. Higher levels of dry air, cold, and ventilation are the reasons for exercise-induced asthma. It is therefore that skiing and running become worse for the patients. However, it is observed that swimming in an indoor, heated pool, with warm and humid air is less likely to cause an attack.