Treatment with oral medications can help older asthma patients avoid problems with inhaler use. Short courses of oral steroids are helpful to treat acute asthma flares. Long-term oral steroid treatment is usually avoided in older asthma patients. Over time, oral steroids can cause severe side effects, such as weakening of bones, ulcers and high blood pressure. As with any asthma patient, treatment for older adults should be a joint decision between patient and doctor.
Communication is the key to making treatment work.
Older asthma patients should be sure to ask their doctor about any aspect of their asthma treatment that they do not understand. Keeping the doctor informed about how well treatment is working for them is important. Patients need to tell their doctor if they are having trouble remembering to take their medication or if they are having difficulty using devices such as inhalers. Their doctor is an important resource to help them keep their asthma under control so that their later years are as comfortable and healthy as possible. This information should not substitute for seeking responsible, professional medical care.