It is dangerous not to be treating your lungs for inflammation, especially in asthma, as it can quickly spiral out of control. You should work with your pulmonary specialist to find a good steroid inhaler. I agree that oral steroids on a long term basis should be avoided if possible. That is why it is important to first exhaust all of your other options. I really like Symbicort, it is less risky to the body then Advair and works very well for asthma. I'm also a big mucous producer and it does cut down the amount that my lungs produce on a regular basis. Right now I"m on the equivalent of Symbicort 400 (which is pulmicort 400ug combined with a long acting bronchodilator Oxeze 12ug. ). Some sever asthmatics have found it useful to add another steroid inhaler on top of their existing ones, such as Qvar. However, be ware of the side effects of Qvar when used at higher doses.
If you don't treat your asthma well, you may suffer lung damage and end up with COPD, which only becomes worse over your lifetime. Plus you could experience an attack so severe that you could be hospitalized or death may be a result.
This exercise, part of yog pranayam, will help to reduce your dependence on steroids.
The extra oxygen will improve your lung function over the long term and you will be able to control the asthma.
Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after one minute.
Anulom Vilom –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril
then -keeping the left nostril closed deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 15 to 30 minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.
Side effects of an inhaled steroid nearly killed me. I still use an albuteral nebulizer and antihistamines, but have added a variety of natural substances that reduce inflammation and keep my lungs from drying out. My condition has improved under the new regime. The medication that was killing me was Advair. It also caused me to suffer adrenal fatigue.