Vocal Cord Dysfunction: A Functional Respiratory Tract Disorder

Vocal Cord Dysfunction
Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is a functional respiratory tract disorder resulting from paradoxical adduction of the vocal cords, complicates the diagnosis and management of common respiratory tract problems, including asthma. The recognition of VCD in a patient with atypical or difficult-to-control asthma is critical in minimizing symptoms and potential side-effects associated with treatment of severe asthma. The symptoms of VCD are not unique to the disorder and include cough, wheeze, stridor, dyspnea, hoarseness, and choking. (more…)

Antileukotrienes in Acute Asthma: Zafirlukast, Montelukast, Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists

Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists
Leukotrienes can be found in the airway and urine following both spontaneous exacerbations of asthma and acute exposure to bronchoconstrictor stimuli in the laboratory. This in turn indicates that they may have a role in the pathogenesis of acute episodes of bronchoconstriction. Although antileukotrienes are not currently advocated in the management of acute asthma, there are data to suggest that they might be of some potential benefit. Prior treatment with montelukast asthma has been shown in several studies to significantly shorten the time taken to recover (in terms of FEV 1 ) following exposure to a bronchoconstrictor stimulus. (more…)

Budesonide Formoterol Inhaler Therapy Safety in Moderate To Severe Asthma

Budesonide Formoterol
This study evaluated budesonide formoterol efficacy and safety of a novel asthma management strategy for both maintenance and symptom relief (Symbicort Single Inhaler Therapy) – compared with a higher maintenance dose of budesonide in patients with moderate to severe asthma. (more…)

Omalizumab Benefits for Severe Persistent Asthma Therapy

Patients with severe persistent asthma who are inadequately controlled despite Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) 2002 step 4 therapy are a challenging population with a significant unmet medical need. In patients with inadequately controlled severe persistent asthma despite high-dose inhaled corticosteroid and LABA therapy, and often additional therapy, omalizumab significantly reduced the rate of clinically significant asthma exacerbations, severe exacerbations and emergency visits. (more…)

Asthma LABA ICS Combination Therapy

Asthma LABA ICS
For most patients, asthma is not controlled as defined by guidelines; whether this is achievable has not been prospectively studied. It is also not known whether combination LABA ICS therapy is more likely to achieve this than an increased dose of ICS.

Control was achieved more rapidly and at a lower inhaled corticosteroid asthma dose with salmeterol/fluticasone than with fluticasone. This study confirms that the goal of guideline derived asthma control was achieved in most of the patients. (more…)

Respiratory Allergies Caused by Air Pollution

The geographical variation in the prevalence of asthma in children does not coincide with variations in air pollution levels. The increase in the prevalence of asthma and allergies seen over the last decades was paralleled by a decrease in emissions of SO2 and particles from coal combustion, and an increase of emissions from motor vehicle traffic. There is a growing number of studies suggesting that increased exposure to traffic exhausts, particularly diesel exhausts, may be a risk factor for the new onset of asthma. (more…)

Exercise Induced Asthma Symptoms: How to Avoid the Attack

exercise induced asthma

This article focuses on symptoms of exercise induced asthma. Exercise can be a trigger factor when asthma is not well controlled. People with asthma should not avoid any form of exercise. It is advisable to exercise to keep the lungs and body in good physiological state. Doing regular exercise will strengthens the respiratory muscles. It will also increase your immune system and maintain a healthy weight. Those advantages can improve body health condition in the long term. The key to asthma exercise is to have a total control of asthma symptoms before to starting a fitness program. (more…)

When Treating One Worker’s Allergy Sets Off Another’s

treating worker allergy
Her case is like King Solomon against Americans with Disabilities Act. The accident begins when a colleague of her ate Buffalo wings at their office. The wings comprised red pepper and paprika, to which Mrs. Kysela, 24 years old, suffers from a rare and potentially fatal allergy. She almost died five years ago because eating chili, and has since sent her to emergency room in hospital of allergy 5 times. This near death accident caused her learning on how to put allergy injections, 11 times, sometimes only in the vicinity of the respiratory peppers or paprika. (more…)

Airway Vascularity in Asthma

The airway circulation has many potential roles in asthma. The vasculature has a major influence on upper airway patency in nasal infection and atopic responses. Given its responsiveness to provocative stimuli in asthma and vasoconstrictive and antiproliferative response to corticosteroids, the bronchial circulation is likely to be a future target for novel asthma therapies. (more…)

Emergency Asthma Medications - Should Your Kids Carry Them to School?

emergency asthma medications
Many kids’ deaths in the United States over the years happened both in schools and children camps because of lack of access to basic essential medicines for asthma.

In Massachusetts, a law passed recently that allows students and children with asthma and allergies to bring along emergency (more…)

Next Page »