Inhalation therapy works because it delivers medication directly to the lungs, where it’s needed most. But which medication you need depends on your age, symptoms, triggers, and what actually keeps your asthma under control. Since asthma changes—your triggers shift, your symptoms fluctuate, the condition itself evolves—your treatment may need adjusting too. That’s why you need an updated asthma action plan in place, worked out with your doctor.
There are two main types of asthma medicines, and they do completely different things.
Reliever medications kick in fast. They open up your airways and give you quick relief from breathlessness, coughing, or wheezing. You use them when you need them.
Controller medications work differently. You take them regularly, usually every day, to manage your asthma over time. They reduce inflammation in your airways, stop symptoms from starting, and lower the chance of future attacks.
