The exact cause of asthma hasn’t been discovered, but it is known to be the result of different environmental and genetic factors. Some of these factors include:
What is Asthma?
A
sthma is one the most common chronic lung conditions. It affects the bronchioles, which are the smallest airways in the lungs, causing them to narrow even more. This narrowing is reversible and temporary, and it causes the typical symptoms of asthma, such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
Asthma is more common during childhood, but it can start at any age and in some cases, it continues through to adulthood. It can also run in some families. Currently there is no cure for asthma, but there are many ongoing clinical trials focusing on asthma treatments.
What Causes Asthma?
During an asthma attack, certain triggers cause excessive inflammation in the bronchioles, which in turn causes the airways to narrow and to produce more secretions or mucus. The combination of narrowed bronchioles and secretions block the airway, which makes it harder to breathe properly.
How is Asthma Diagnosed?
First, the doctor must examine the patient and their medical history. Certain symptoms, such as shortness of breath (dyspnea), coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness, will point to an asthma diagnosis. After this, a procedure called spirometry will be carried out to confirm the diagnosis.
During a spirometry, the patient will be asked to blow air into a device called spirometer, and said device will deliver certain results which will allow the doctor to classify the patient’s symptoms according to severity. A spirometry measures:
A peak flow meter can also be used to measure your breathing capacity. It is a small device and it is recommended that every asthma patient own one, so that they can measure their peak expiratory flow rate or PEFR, which will allow them to know the degree of obstruction in their airways at any given point in time.
Using data such as the frequency of symptoms, how often they occur during the night, FEV1 and its variability, and how often medications need to be used, asthma is classified as intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent, and severe persistent. It can also be classified as extrinsic or intrinsic depending on whether the symptoms are triggered by allergens or not, respectively.
Treating Asthma
There isn’t a permanent cure for asthma, however, different medications can be used to improve the symptoms it causes. Patients usually receive certain types of drugs to treat acute episodes, and different ones to decrease or prevent attacks in the long term. Some of these medications include:
Fast Acting Drugs:
- Short-acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonists (SABA): these drugs represent the first choice of treatment for acute asthma symptoms, and they include salbutamol, bitolterol, fenoterol,levosalbutamol, and orciprenaline.
- Anticholinergics: can be used in conjunction with SABA to strengthen their effects, or alone in people allergic to them. The most used anticholinergic is ipratropium bromide.
- During severe attacks, inhaled epinephrine is sometimes used.
Long-Term Management:
- Corticosteroids are commonly used to control asthma. Inhaled corticosteroids are preferred, such as beclomethasone, budesonide, and fluticasone.
- Long-acting beta-adrenoceptor agonists (LABA) can be used together with corticosteroids, and they are not used alone frequently. They include formoterol and salmeterol.
- Leukotriene receptor antagonists can be added to the long-term treatment of mild or moderate asthma. They include montelukast and zafirlukast.
Monoclonal Antibody Therapy:
Medications such as omalizumab, mepolizumab, and reslizumab have been approved for use in teenagers and adults with severe asthma, and they have been found to reduce the use of corticosteroids by up to 50%.
Bronchial Thermoplasty:
This procedure involves the delivery of thermal energy to the airway wall during a series of bronchoscopy procedures. Symptoms might be exacerbated during the first months after therapy, but they seem to decrease afterwards.
Asthma Clinical Trials
Considering the fact that asthma affects a large number of people, it is only natural for doctors and scientists to want to discover new ways to treat this condition and improve the quality of life of those who suffer from it.
Asthma clinical trials aim to understand the causes of asthma, and to test out new medications and even lifestyle and dietary changes to treat the disease.
Joining a clinical trial provides patients a greater control over their health, and gives them access to healthcare provided by teams of experts in their fields. Trials are carried out in universities, hospitals, and research centers. If you are interested in joining a clinical trial to find new ways to manage your asthma, ask your doctor about clinical trials in your area or contact organizations to find out about trials available to you.
ClinicalTrials.gov: Recruiting Studies | Asthma | Last update posted in the last 300 days Studies found on ClinicalTrials.gov by a search of: Recruiting Studies | Asthma | Last update posted in the last 300 days
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Improving Safety of Diagnosis and Therapy in the Inpatient Setting
on May 19, 2020 at 4:00 pm
Conditions: Delirium; Confusion; Mental Status Change; Back Pain; Hip Pain Chronic; Chest Pain; Asthma; COPD; Cellulitis; Soft Tissue Infections; Cough; Deep Vein Thrombosis; Pulmonary Embolism; Venous Thromboembolism; Dyspnea; Electrolyte Metabolism Abnormal; Fever; Failure to Thrive; Weakness; Protein-Calorie Malnutrition; Headache; Neck Pain; Hypoxia; Pneumonia; Sepsis; Syncope; Vomiting; Diarrhea; Leg Pain; Abdominal PainInterventions: Behavioral: Diagnostic Uncertainty Educational Curriculum; Behavioral: Diagnostic Timeout; Behavioral: Patient Diagnostic (Dx) Questionnaire; Behavioral: Enhancements to Epic-integrated Quality & Safety DashboardSponsors: Brigham and Women's Hospital; Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)Recruiting
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Influence of Specific Immunotherapy With Pollinex Quattro (Tree-/Grass Pollen) on Allergen-specific Immunoglobulin E (IgE) Levels
on May 15, 2020 at 4:00 pm
Conditions: Rhinitis, Allergic; Respiratory Tract Infections; Allergy; Allergic Asthma; Allergic ConjunctivitisIntervention: Drug: Pollinex Quattro with tree- and grass pollen extracts and their mixturesSponsor: Allergy TherapeuticsRecruiting
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Using Technology-Assisted Stepped Care Intervention to Improve Adherence in Adolescents With Asthma
on April 28, 2020 at 4:00 pm
Condition: AsthmaIntervention: Behavioral: TASC InterventionSponsor: Children's Hospital Medical Center, CincinnatiRecruiting
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Immune Response Features in Allergic Airway Diseases
on April 17, 2020 at 4:00 pm
Conditions: Allergic Rhinitis; Allergic AsthmaIntervention: Procedure: Nasal provocation testSponsor: Lithuanian University of Health SciencesRecruiting
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Comparison of 3 Methods to Assess Inhalation Technique
on April 16, 2020 at 4:00 pm
Conditions: Asthma; COPDIntervention: Other: Assessment of inhalation techniqueSponsor: Medical University of WarsawRecruiting
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Subjective Sleep Quality and Sleep Disorders in Patients With Severe Asthma
on April 9, 2020 at 4:00 pm
Condition: AsthmaIntervention: Sponsor: Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpARecruiting
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Protective Role of Inhaled Steroids for Covid-19 Infection
on April 2, 2020 at 4:00 pm
Conditions: Covid-19 Infection; Hospitalization in Respiratory Disease DepartmentInterventions: Drug: 2: Usual practice + SYMBICORT RAPIHALER; Other: 1: Usual practiceSponsor: Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de ParisRecruiting
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Audio Data Collection for Identification and Classification of Coughing
on March 30, 2020 at 4:00 pm
Conditions: COVID-19; Coronavirus Infections; Hay Fever; Asthma; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; Influenza; Common Cold; Respiratory Tract Infections; HealthyIntervention: Sponsor: HealthMode Inc.Recruiting
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Clinical Characteristics and Treatment of Chest Tightness Variant Asthma
on March 26, 2020 at 4:00 pm
Conditions: Asthma; Chest Syndrome; Clinical Anxiety; Clinical Depression; Lung Function; Quality of Life; Eosinophilia; Nitric Oxide; Airway Responsiveness; Induced SputumInterventions: Drug: Inhaled corticosteriod/long-acting beta-agonist plus Montelukast; Drug: Inhaled corticosteriod/long-acting beta-agonist onlySponsor: Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityRecruiting
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Anti-viral Effects of Azithromycin in Patients With Asthma and COPD
on March 24, 2020 at 4:00 pm
Conditions: Asthma; COPD; Exacerbation Copd; Asthma; Eosinophilic; Bronchial Diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Lung Diseases; Immune System DiseasesInterventions: Drug: Azithromycin; Drug: Placebo oral tabletSponsors: Bispebjerg Hospital; Lund University; University of Copenhagen; Herlev and Gentofte HospitalRecruiting
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Asthma: Phenotyping Exacerbations 2
on March 3, 2020 at 5:00 pm
Condition: ASTHMAIntervention: Diagnostic Test: spirometry, FOT, Induced sputum, bloods, nasal brushes, nasal lavage, skin prick, throat swabSponsors: University of Nottingham; AstraZenecaRecruiting
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Asthma: Phenotyping EXacerbations
on March 3, 2020 at 5:00 pm
Condition: AsthmaIntervention: Diagnostic Test: spirometry, FOT, Induced sputum, bloods, nasal brushes, nasal lavage, skin prick, throat swabSponsors: University of Nottingham; AstraZenecaRecruiting
Lifestyle Changes
- Recognize what triggers your symptoms, so that you can avoid the situations or substances which can lead to an attack, or take the necessary precautions, such as premedicating, to manage or prevent your symptoms.
- Avoid smoke inhalation and exposure to substances or chemicals with strong smells.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle and lose excess weight. Certain food preservatives can trigger symptoms, so it is helpful to consume fresh, healthy foods.
- Practice exercise within your limits. Physical activity helps keep asthma symptoms at bay, since it improves your aerobic capacity.
- Keep your asthma medication with you and be prepared for acute attacks.
Tips For Friends and Family
- Don’t discourage your loved one from enjoying physical activities and sports.
- Don’t smoke or use strong-smelling substances around your loved one.
- Help maintain a clean environment which is allergen-free.
- Get flu shots to ensure herd immunity and avoid infectious diseases which could trigger acute episodes.
- Know when to seek emergency care for your loved one.
Sources
- UPMC. Recovered from https://www.upmc.com/patients-visitors/education/breathing/pages/asthma.aspx\
- Tidy, C. Asthma. (Nov 8th, 2016). Recovered from https://patient.info/health/asthma-leaflet#nav-2