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Definition: Rescue Medications for Teens

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Rescue Medications

(Medicamentos de alivio rápido)

Rescue medications are asthma medicines that work quickly. They rescue the person from wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Most rescue medications are inhaled, and they work by relaxing the muscle around the airways. When the muscles are relaxed, the airways will be wider and better able to move air in and out of the lungs. But rescue medications wear off quickly and may not be enough to keep someone's asthma under control. That's why some people also need a controller medicine, which is taken daily, to keep the airways from getting swollen in the first place.

Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.

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