Severe Asthma News & Updates
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‘We Called Him Itty’ – But He Had Big Dreams
Izaiah Fiedler tragically died from suicide whilte on montelukast for asthma. His family now advocates for improved asthma care and suicide prevention.
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‘The Balancing Act’ Video: Prevalence of Severe Asthma
Watch as severe asthma and treatment options, including oral corticosteroids are discussed.
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Ask the Allergist: Severe Asthma Know-How
Dr. Purvi Parikh answers the Ask the Allergist question: how does a severe asthma patient know if their symptoms are well controlled?
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Pediatric Asthma Yardstick: Step-Up Care for Children
Learn about the pediatric asthma yardstick to step-up care for children.
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What Severe Asthma Looks Like
Here’s a fascinating look at what happens inside your body during a severe asthma attack — and what the symptoms may look like from…
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Leading Patient Advocacy Organizations Join Forces to Launch Program Aimed at Raising Awareness of Severe Asthma
Allergy & Asthma Network (AAN) and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) today announced the launch of Be the Boss of Your Asthma,…
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Ask the Allergist: Step-Up Care for Asthma
Dr. Bradley Chips answers the Ask the Allergist question: what do asthma patients need to know about the new Asthma Yardstick?
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HealthCentral Video: Lessons From a Lifetime of Severe Asthma
Learn how a specialized approach to asthma care helped a severe asthma patient, Anne, to breathe better.
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Breathing Easy On and Off the Basketball Court
The story of how NBA standout Richard Jefferson saved his career with Bronchial Thermoplasty.
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How the New ‘Asthma Yardstick’ Measures Up
Leading board-certified allergists and pulmonologists recently developed a series of recommendations called the Asthma Yardstick.
All About
Severe Asthma News & Updates
If you are unable to control asthma with all types of treatment, you may have severe asthma. It’s estimated 5-10% of people with asthma have severe asthma. These patients often experience high rates of emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Severe asthma must be carefully monitored since symptoms could be life-threatening if ignored. If your symptoms worsen, you have a flare-up during everyday activities, or your symptoms don’t respond to a quick-relief inhaler, prompt medical treatment is necessary. Severe asthma may call for a higher dosage of inhaled corticosteroids or long-term oral corticosteroids. If symptoms continue to not respond, then biologics are the next step. These medications target cells and pathways that cause allergic inflammation. They reduce inflammation and calm the immune system. Your treatment plan may also include lifestyle changes, including:
- Avoiding triggers (including allergens)
- Avoiding smoking (including secondhand smoke)
- Losing weight if needed
- Doing breathing exercises
- Managing or reducing stress
