Advances in Asthma Treatment

Asthma medications help keep asthma symptoms under control. However, there is a new non-medication asthma treatment in development.

Controlling asthma and avoiding attacks is the goal of most asthma treatment strategies. It is important to following the recommended regime and avoid asthma attack triggers. To some asthma sufferers the constant use of controllers can be tedious. Advances in asthma treatment not only focus on developing more effective inhalers and drug compositions that can help manage the disease better, but also focus on treatment strategies that can help improve the disease physiology resulting in fewer asthma attacks.

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic lung disease. It main characteristics include airway inflammation and bronchospasms that tighten the smooth muscles that wrap the airways. These characteristics result in wheezing, chest tightness, coughing, and difficulty breathing. The effects are reversible and can be controlled or reversed by anti-inflammatory agents or bronchodilators. The cause of asthma is unknown but infections, cold air, allergens, stress, and exercise may make the symptoms worse.
Asthma is a commonly diagnosed disease in the United States with 10 percent of children having been diagnosed with asthma.