Asthma can be managed but not cured
By Dipali Pathak
Asthma can be treated but even still, medications and lifestyle changes will not cure the disease, which affects about 24 million Americans, according to an expert at Baylor College of Medicine.
Treatment for asthma, which has a higher prevalence in the inner city population, depends on its severity and incorporates anti-inflammatory medications and lifestyle changes, said Nicola Hanania, M.D., associate professor of medicine at BCM.
Controlling asthma
"There is airway inflammation that needs to be treated, and you also have to control the environment and irritants to which you are exposed,” he said.
He stresses controlling indoor allergens such as dust mites and mold, as well as controlling exposure to second-hand smoke.
Although asthma symptoms may not be as apparent when medication and lifestyle changes are incorporated, asthma is not actually cured. If medication or lifestyle changes are stopped, signs of poor control will appear. These include exacerbations and an increased use of an inhaler. This can lead to emergency room visits, hospitalizations and sometimes even death.
Asthma education
Hanania suggests proper education about asthma, including the use of inhaler devices, avoiding exposure to irritants, taking medications and monitoring asthma on a daily basis. He also emphasizes having an action plan and knowing when to get help or when to go to the emergency room.
It is possible for adults to develop asthma even though it was not present previously. It is difficult to identify asthma symptoms in older adults since symptoms can be related to other illnesses. Hanania and other researchers are studying why this occurs and how older adults can better manage their asthma.
