Category: Asthma

A Deeper Look at Severe Asthma Yields NET Results

Of the more than 24 million people in the U.S. who have asthma, 10 percent have severe asthma – a form of the disease that does not respond to treatment. The immunological mechanisms underlying severe asthma and asthmatic lung inflammation are not well understood. A 2018 study by investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital published… Continue reading A Deeper Look at Severe Asthma Yields NET Results

Steroids May Do More Harm Than Good in Some Cases of Severe Asthma

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences and UPMC have uncovered the molecular mechanism underlying corticosteroid resistance in severe asthma. The new findings have important clinical implications, suggesting that corticosteroids, the main treatment for asthma, may worsen the disease in this group of patients. The research was published July 6TH 2017… Continue reading Steroids May Do More Harm Than Good in Some Cases of Severe Asthma

Understanding Lung Problems

Lupe has smoked for over 45 years. This year she started having trouble keeping up with her 3-year-old grandson without gasping for air. She can no longer work in her garden without having coughing fits. Sometimes Lupe feels out of breath strolling through the market. Yet, Lupe was surprised when her doctor said she had… Continue reading Understanding Lung Problems

New Asthma Biomarkers Discovered

People with asthma have telltale molecules circulating in their blood, say researchers at Penn State College of Medicine. According to a release from Penn on April 13th 2016, the discovery could lead to the first diagnostic blood test for asthma, as well as more targeted treatments for the condition. The results were published in The… Continue reading New Asthma Biomarkers Discovered

Rescue Inhalers: New Approach Increases Mastery of Life-Saving Technique

A rescue inhaler can be a lifesaver during an asthma or COPD flare-up, but using a rescue inhaler is complicated and misuse is common, putting patients’ lives at risk. An education strategy, called teach-to-goal, may help patients use their inhalers properly during these critical times, according to research published online in March 2016 in the… Continue reading Rescue Inhalers: New Approach Increases Mastery of Life-Saving Technique

Older Asthma Patients at Increased Risk for Treatment Failure

Older patients with asthma are at increased risk for treatment failure, particularly those patients being treated with inhaled corticosteroids, according to a study done at the Asthma Program at National Jewish Health in Denver. The findings were published online ahead of print publication in June 2015 in the American Thoracic Society’s American Journal of Respiratory… Continue reading Older Asthma Patients at Increased Risk for Treatment Failure

Inhaler Reminders Improve Adherence

If you’re an asthma sufferer and you sometimes forget to use your inhaler, an electronic reminder could be the answer to keeping yourself on track. A study conducted by a research team at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, Australia showed that reminders prompting asthma patients to take their control inhalers if they miss a dose significantly improved medication adherence, During the six-month investigation, patients receiving reminders took on average 73% of their prescribed doses compared to only 46% in patients who did not have reminders.