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Are you looking for over the counter asthma medication? Before we get into your options, does this story sound familiar to you?

Jade has been working in the bakery for 10 years and recently she has been experiencing difficulty in breathing. Whenever she is handling flour to make some bread, coughing and tightness in the chest follows afterwards. The symptoms that Jade exhibits are indication of a condition that has claimed almost 4,000 lives annually: asthma.

Asthma is a respiratory ailment wherein the passageways of air in the lungs constrict to the point when the supply of oxygen becomes limited. It is a serious condition; therefore, if you are suspecting that you have asthma, trying home remedies for asthma or going to the doctor for medical help is important.

Once the occurrence of the disease is confirmed, patients are usually subjected to a skin test to determine the agents that trigger asthma. Common asthma irritants include dust, dairy products, salty foods, pollen, cigarette smoke, and processed foods. It could also occur with physically straining activities like exercise and high-speed sports.

Medications are usually prescribed by doctors to manage the condition of asthmatics. Cases of asthma that are only mild and not life-threatening can be relieved quickly with OTC asthma medication. These drugs are often inhaled through the mouth such that each puff is directly delivered to the narrowing airways. Here are some of your options:

Generic Epinephrine

This medicine relieves asthma by relaxing and opening up constricted airways so that the patient can breathe easily. This substance is actually a hormone produced naturally by the adrenal glands in small amounts. Epinephrine medications can also be bought in containers called nebules that vaporize the drug for inhalation.

Antihistamines and Decongestants

Aside from epinephrine inhalers, people who suffer from intermittent asthma attacks can take over the counter asthma medication in the form of antihistamines and decongestants. The former works by blocking the action of histamines, a chemical produced in the body that can aggravate swelling of air passages. Decongestants meanwhile make it easier for asthma sufferers to breathe by shrinking the noses inflamed membranes.

Expectorants

Another type of OTC asthma medication includes expectorants. Asthmatics often develop mucus in their inflamed airways making it more difficult to breathe. Upon intake of expectorants, the mucus is loosened so that it can be easily coughed out.

Remember, asthma is a condition that should not be taken lightly, since it could lead to a more serious condition and even death. These medications will not cause any harm provided they are used appropriately. Just to be safe, before taking over the counter asthma medications, asthma sufferers should take precaution and consult the advice of their doctor first.

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