Rescue Medications

(En español: Medicamentos de alivio rápido)

Say: res-kyoo meh-duh-kay-shunz

Rescue medications are a type of asthma medicine that works quickly. They rescue the person from wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Most rescue medications are inhaled and work by relaxing the muscle around the airways. When the muscles are relaxed, the airways are wider, which makes it easier to move air in and out of the lungs. But rescue medications won't prevent future asthma flare-ups and may not be enough to keep someone's asthma under control. Controller medicine, taken daily, is often needed as well to keep the airways from getting swollen and narrow in the first place.