Of course, the ultimate goal is to prevent someone from having an asthma attack. Preventing an attack means treating the underlying cause, which is inflammation of the airways.
Doctors do this by prescribing anti-inflammatory drugs. These are most commonly cortisones (often also called corticosteroids or just steroids) in the form of inhalers over the long-term. Unlike relievers, cortisones must be taken every day and their actions aren’t felt immediately. They usually take 7 to 14 days to reduce the inflammation, by which point the symptoms of asthma go away.
Once the inflammation is reduced, there should be very little need for reliever inhalers. However, the anti-inflammatory medication should continue to be taken even after the symptoms disappear.
Other types of anti-inflammtory drugs are found under "Other medications".