Does asthma steroids help when you have Covid

[cocoo43]

Hi guys I have asthma and currently have covid just a curious thought does asthma steroids help with covid because as we know covid can irritate the lungs and steroids reduces inflammation in the lungs and helps with coughing

Perhaps contact asthma UK? They are looking into c9vid impacts to asthma so may have info.

Get well soon OP, I have asthma also and do worry about the impact of damage.

I have wondered this OP because my DD has asthma.

FWIW early on in the pandemic I called her consultant at the hospital where she goes as an outpatient and he said that asthma is not thought to be a particular risk factor for COVID (although severe asthma is classed as a risk factor): he said that there was emerging evidence COVID mainly targets a different biological pathway and that while its probably not great if you have asthma its not thought to be more dangerous to asthmatics than others unless they are very severe or have other comorbidities.

Also remember COVID doesn't only impact the lungs: it potentially affects a wide range of organs including the heart, liver and even the brain.

So not saying don't worry at all but I wouldn't assume you're automatically at very high risk simply because you have it.

Helped my ds. He used his pink inhaler a lot when he had the horrible covid cough.

Asthma breathing techniques can also help with covid, like the buteyko breathing technique

Steroids reduce the activity of the immune system so you'd need to be closely monitored if taking them when infected by covid.
I know they're used in hospital for some very ill covid patients if their immune system has gone haywire and is over-reacting but probably not a good idea for general use.
Most of us need our immune systems to be working well when we have an infection.

I used my inhaler when I had breathing issues from day 8 of covid. I’m not sure it helped much. It wasn’t like asthma. I felt my airways were clear but that I wasn’t getting oxygen.

No because of them both targeting different areas. Asthma is inflammation in the airways which narrows them and constricts the amount of air that can go in or co2 that comes out. Covid affects the alveoli in the lungs which affects gas exchange and hence affects oxygen levels. Inhalers don’t get down that far.