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| Asthma: Principles of Treatment |
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| ASTHMA: PRINCIPLES OF TREATMENT |
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Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways associated to an
increase in airway hyperresponsiveness that leads to recurrent episodes of
wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing, particularly at night or in the early morning. These episodes are
usually associated with widespread but variable airflow obstruction that is often
reversible either spontaneously or with treatment. Although no ultimate cure
has been found yet, efficacious therapeutic agents are currently available to
control asthma and its symptomatology. In the pursuit of establishing the
appropriate treatment for every asthmatic patient, multiple elements need to
be taken into account, first of all asthma severity: the identification of the exact
severity level of the disease allows to design the most adequate
pharmacological approach, on the basis of what is specifically suggested by
GINA (Global INitiative for Asthma) guidelines.1
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