Advair

Advair is used for the treatment and maintenance of asthma and COPD. Intended for those over the age of 4, Advair is used twice a day for maintaining asthma on a long-term basis. This is not a drug meant for treating asthma attacks or sudden breathing problems but functions as a preventative measure. Asthma is a lung disease that causes the airways in the lungs to narrow and become inflamed. Those with asthma typically experience symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. While asthma usually occurs first in childhood, it can affect anyone. Asthma can result in the tightening of the muscles around the airways, constricting airways and limiting the amount of air that can enter the body. Swelling can result and the irritation can cause mucus to build up in the airways, leaving breathing further restricted.

Advair is also used to treat COPD, which is a condition that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Emphysema occurs when the alveoli or air sacs in the lungs become damaged which can result in fewer enlarged air sacs, rather than several small ones. Chronic obstructive bronchitis causes the airway lining to become inflamed. The constant irritation leaves the lining thicker than normal and covered in mucus, making it harder to breathe. Advair is used for this condition because it works to open up obstruction in the airways of the lungs and reduces inflammation and irritation caused by these diseases. It is advised that Advair be taken twice a day to keep the airway open and stave off typical COPD symptoms, which consist of coughing that produces mucus, shortness of breath and wheezing. COPD is usually caused by long-term cigarette smoking or exposure to other irritants like smog, chemicals and pollutants.