Incoming air passes into the lungs through tubes called bronchioles
narrowing of bronchioles happens in asthma and bronchitis (bronchitis in children) due to the contraction of the muscles of the bronchioles walls
Or as a result of congestion by mucus
This narrowing prevents the exit and entry of air into the lungs and breathing problemw in the patient
Doctors prescribe medicines for dilating these bronchioles known as bronchodilators to dilate them and improve breathing
These medicines are divided into three sections medicinally
Sympathomimetics
Anticholinergics
Xanthines
And each of these medications do the same job which is to improve symptoms, but do not address the root of the problem
it is believed that the anticholinergics is the strongest influence in the case of bronchitis, but has a weaker influence with asthma and prescribed only as an addition with other drugs
sympathomimetics are the first choice in asthma, as well as frequently used in bronchitis
xanthines used for many years in both cases, but has the drawback of having to adjust accurately the dose to get the desired effect without any side effects
So far only used at least with people who can not control their condition by other bronchodilators only
Examples:
Sympathomimetics
Bambuterol ephedrine
epinephrine Formoterol salbutamol fenoterol
Salmeterol Terbutalin
Anticholinergic:
Ipratropium bromide, tiotropium
xanthines :
theophylline, Aminophylline
Uses
dilating the bronchioles and airways in patients with asthma or bronchitis and weak influence in cases of chronic inflammation of the bronchi airways
Always used in the time of need to reduce the symptoms of breathing problems
Some people use as a preventive dose before performing any activity thought that would cause trouble breathing
The patient who needs more than a single dose of sympathomimetics per day (inhaler) is advisable to check with his doctor to him to give him some kind of steroids by mouth inhaler for prevention
The anticholinergic and xanthines are used for acute as well as the long term
How it works :
relax the walls of the bronchioles airway muscles
Usually improve the situation within a few minutes
The cortisone inhaler improves the patient's ability to move in a few days and most patients feel a decrease in the number of episodes of breathing problems
Sympathomimetics may cause some similar effects to the nervous system so it has side effects such as increased heart rate and trembling
while anticholinergic side effects are dry mouth and blurred vision sometimes difficulty in urination
xanthines may cause headaches and nausea
The risks and precautions
Because most of these medications taken through inhalers , it has no serious side effects
Sympathomimetics and xanthines because it may affect the heart rate should be given with caution to those suffering from heart problems or high active thyroid or problems with urination or glaucoma in adults
