Asthma

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Asthma

Asthma is a multifactorial disease that is not well understood and can have a variety of risk factors. In the United States it affects over 22 million people, results in 4000 deaths annually (1) and is responsible for 200,000 hospitalizations annually (2). Of additional concern is the observation that the number of asthma cases has doubled in the United States since 1980 (3). Considering the fact that standard asthma treatment protocols only address symptom reduction and do not resolve the condition, prevention is the most viable treatment option.

It is important to note the conclusions made by Saglani and Bush review of the origins of asthma. It was stated that "the roots of asthma are to be found in the first three years of life…By age 3, the die is cast and lung function tracks lifelong" (4).

(1) Balkissoon R. Asthma overview. Prim Care 2008 Mar;35(1):41-60, vi.; (2) Michael MA. Scope and impact of pediatric asthma. Nurse Pract 2002 Jun;Suppl:3-6.; (3) Redd SC. Asthma in the United States: burden and current theories. Environ Health Perspect 2002 Aug;110 Suppl 4:557-60.; (4) Saglani S, Bush A. The early-life origins of asthma. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 2007 Feb;7(1):83-90.

Clinical Reviews

Asthma: Prevention

Unlike many conditions there is a wealth of information relating to risk factors and prevention strategies for asthma. The difficulty is in choosing an appropriate strategy for your unique patient. Asthma is a multifactorial disease that is not well understood and can have a variety of risk factors. In the United States it affects over 22 million people, results in 4000 deaths annually (1) and is responsible for 200,000 hospitalizations annually (2). Of additional concern is the observation that the number of asthma cases has doubled in the United States since 1980 (3). Considering the fact that standard asthma treatment protocols only address symptom reduction and do not resolve the condition, prevention is the most viable treatment option.

Asthma: Therapy

The use of complementary therapies in the treatment of asthma is quite remarkable. Sixty percent of individuals with moderate asthma and 70% of individuals with severe asthma have sought additional treatment to complement the traditional medical model. A wide variety of conservative interventions were located for the treatment of asthma. Unfortunately most studies for individual interventions are either limited in number or of limited quality. Although most therapies have a clinical basis of evidence, support in the scientific literature is weak. Most authors emphasize the urgent need for additional study in this understudied yet extremely important area of health care. Virtually all conservative interventions are tested while the patient is maintaining regular medical care.

Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) Information

MeSH Term: Asthma

Scope Note: A form of bronchial disorder with three distinct components: airway hyper-responsiveness (RESPIRATORY HYPERSENSITIVITY), airway INFLAMMATION, and intermittent AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION. It is characterized by spasmodic contraction of airway smooth muscle, WHEEZING, and dyspnea (DYSPNEA, PAROXYSMAL).

MeSH Synonyms:

Asthma
Asthmas
Bronchial Asthma
Asthma, Bronchial

Applicable MeSH Subheadings:

analysis
anatomy and histology
blood
cerebrospinal fluid
chemically induced
classification
complications
congenital
cytology
diagnosis
diet therapy
drug effects
drug therapy
economics
embryology
enzymology
epidemiology
ethnology
etiology
genetics
history
immunology
legislation and jurisprudence
metabolism
microbiology
mortality
nursing
organization and administration
parasitology
pathology
physiology
physiopathology
prevention and control
psychology
radiography
radionuclide imaging
radiotherapy
rehabilitation
statistics and numerical data
surgery
therapeutic use
therapy
ultrasonography
urine
veterinary
virology

See Related MeSH Terms:

Anti-Asthmatic Agents

One-Click Literature Search

Asthma AND Prevention

Asthma AND Diagnosis

Asthma AND Therapy

Informative Links

MayoClinic.com Asthma Information

Mayo Clinic Health Solutions' award-winning consumer Web site offers health information and self-improvement tools. MayoClinic.com's medical experts and editorial professionals bring you access to the knowledge and experience of Mayo Clinic for all your consumer health information needs, from cancer, diabetes and heart disease to nutrition, exercise and pregnancy.

MedlinePlus: Asthma

MedlinePlus will direct you to information to help answer health questions. MedlinePlus brings together authoritative information from NLM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

Current Clinical Trials Relating to Asthma

ClinicalTrials.gov: Provides patients, family members, and members of the public easy and free access to information on clinical studies for a wide range of diseases and conditions.

Assessing Decision Maker Tools for Asthma: the Asthma APGAR

(Status: Enrolling by invitation)

Maternal Variables Associated With Adherence in Children With Asthma

(Status: Not yet recruiting)

E-support for Healthcare Processes - ASTHMA

(Status: Recruiting)

Pilot Study of Pioglitazone for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Asthma in Obese Asthmatics

(Status: Active, not recruiting)

Measurement of Natriuretic Hormone Peptides in Exacerbation of Asthma

(Status: Completed)

Web-Based and Tailored Asthma Management Intervention (Puff City) in Teens With Asthma Attending Urban Clinics

(Status: Recruiting)

Impact of Aerobic Exercise on Asthma Morbidity

(Status: Recruiting)

Sustaining Smoking Cessation in Smokers With Kids With Asthma

(Status: Completed)

Asthma Comparative Effectiveness Study

(Status: Completed)

Implementation of an Asthma Program to Improve Asthma Identification and Education in Children

(Status: Recruiting)

Reduce IDentified UNcontrolled Asthma

(Status: Active, not recruiting)

Asthma in Central Texas Project

(Status: Recruiting)

Omalizumab in Adult and Adolescent Patients With Severe Persistent Allergic Asthma

(Status: Completed)

Effects of Educational Intervention on Long-Term Outcomes of Hospitalized Children With Asthma

(Status: Active, not recruiting)

Promoting Asthma Wellness in Rural Communities

(Status: Active, not recruiting)

Pediatric Asthma Alert Intervention for Minority Children With Asthma

(Status: Active, not recruiting)

Influence of an Asthma Education Programme on Asthma Control During Pregnancy

(Status: Recruiting)

Asthma Patient Survey Study to Assess Asthma Effect and Medication in Finland

(Status: Completed)

Study for Asthma Education in Primary Schools

(Status: Active, not recruiting)

European Cost of Asthma Treatment

(Status: Completed)

20 Clinical Trials Returned

Thirdhand Smoke: Understanding a Serious “New” Health Risk

ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff

Recent studies now describe the risk of environmental pollutants that remain even after the second hand smoke has cleared. These pollutants remain on the surfaces of buildings, furniture, floors, clothing and other items exposed to smokers and are being referred to as third hand (or thirdhand) smoke.

ChiroACCESS |

March 19, 2013

Dust Bunnies Make Poor Pets

ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff

Dust bunnies have some positive attributes as low maintenance pets. There is no need to walk them, no feeding and no vet bills. Unfortunately they do pose a very serious health risk.

ChiroACCESS |

October 11, 2011

A Cornucopia of Slings and Arrows: Straw Men on Parade

Anthony L. Rosner, Ph.D., LL.D.[Hon.], LLC

The simplest way to explain a straw man argument is that it is a fallacy which is based upon the misrepresentation of an opponent’s position. Like a marine monster or one in Greek mythology, it can assume many forms.

ChiroACCESS |

May 25, 2010

The Use of Probiotics in the Treatment and Prevention of Disease

Dwain M. Daniel, D.C.

Probiotics, a term coined in 1965 by two veterinarians, has emerged as a major player in the prevention and treatment of many different disease states.

ChiroACCESS |

May 6, 2010

Autism, Asthma and Tylenol

ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff

In the January 2010 issue of Medical Hypothesis, Becker and Schultz suggest that Tylenol may be implicated in both autism and asthma. The rate of these conditions has risen sharply in recent years but there continues to be controversy over the etiology. Little hard evidence exists but one study describes the significant increase in autism that began at the same time acetaminophen was recommended to take the place of aspirin.

ChiroACCESS |

January 18, 2010

Infant Feeding and the Relationship to Asthma, Allergic Reactions and Allergic Sensitization in Children

ChiroACCESS Editorial Staff

There is a great deal of consistency in the recommendations to provide only breast milk during the first four to six months of infant feeding. There has been some controversy regarding when to introduce solid food and what foods are appropriate to minimize allergies later in life. There have been several studies published this year that provide more evidence to guide feeding recommendations.

ChiroACCESS |

December 10, 2009

Acupuncture

(Asthma: Therapy)

The value of acupuncture is difficult to evaluate, if for no other reason, there is a significant variety in the different points selected for stimulation in different studies. A 2004 Cochrane....

Published On

February 11, 2009

Allergens

(Asthma: Prevention)

Atopy is defined as an allergic hypersensitivity affecting parts of the body not in direct contact with the allergen. It is considered by many to be a major factor in the genesis of asthma and as....

Published On

December 10, 2008

Beta Agonists

(Asthma: Therapy)

Beta agonists are available in two forms, short and long lasting. The role of short acting beta agonists is as a rescue medication in acute exacerbations. Long lasting beta agonists are used in....

Published On

February 11, 2009

Breathing Exercises

(Asthma: Therapy)

Nasal breathing, mouth and nasal breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, slow breathing and Buteyko breathing are just a few of the different breathing techniques investigated for asthma. The variety of....

Published On

February 11, 2009

Daycare/Number of Siblings

(Asthma: Prevention)

There was a protective effect of having older siblings in the group of children with allergic rhinitis and asthma in a study of the children of 31,145 mothers. However, children with asthma without....

Published On

December 10, 2008

Diet

(Asthma: Prevention)

There is a growing body of evidence that diet may play a role in asthma. When diet is inadequate, supplementation may provide protection. A surprising number of nutritional protocols have been....

Published On

December 10, 2008

Education

(Asthma: Therapy)

Clear evidence exists in the literature supporting education as a beneficial intervention, although improvements are generally modest in nature. The strongest evidence of effectiveness is for....

Published On

February 11, 2009

Exercise

(Asthma: Prevention)

Exercise is uniquely distinct from other risk factors, in that it can both exacerbate as well as a prevent asthma. It is the most common trigger for an acute asthma attack in individuals with a ....

Published On

December 10, 2008

Exercise

(Asthma: Therapy)

It is sometimes difficult to rate effectiveness of a treatment because different studies are looking for improvements in different areas. Exercise has been investigated to determine effect on lung....

Published On

February 11, 2009

Food Allergy

(Asthma: Prevention)

There are two primary manifestations of food allergies. The first is an IgE-mediated reaction which is essentially the production of antibodies to certain proteins. The second is non-IgE mediated....

Published On

December 10, 2008

Genetics

(Asthma: Prevention)

The role genetics plays as a risk factor is well established in the scientific literature (25-28). However, understanding the mechanisms at play and the identification of specific genes remain a goal....

Published On

December 10, 2008

Herbal Remedies

(Asthma: Therapy)

A significant number of RCT’s have been performed on herbal preparations for the treatment of asthma. However the number of studies is more a reflection of the number of different herbs tested rather....

Published On

February 11, 2009

Inhaled Corticosteroids

(Asthma: Therapy)

Inhaled corticosteroids are considered the first-line therapy in all patients with asthma. According to the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) corticosteroids do not have long....

Published On

February 11, 2009

NSAIDs

(Asthma: Prevention)

The role of NSAID’s in asthma onset remains controversial. A systematic review of 21 studies of aspirin sensitivity and cross sensitivity of other NSAID’s was published in 2004. This study....

Published On

December 10, 2008

Nutrition

(Asthma: Therapy)

There is significant disagreement whether nutritional supplementation has established itself as a viable treatment option in asthma. Cochrane reviews have explored vitamin C,....

Published On

February 11, 2009

Obesity

(Asthma: Prevention)

Although a relationship between obesity and asthma has been established, it is uncertain that obesity is directly related to asthma. It is possible the same factors that lead to obesity may also....

Published On

December 10, 2008

Other

(Asthma: Prevention)

Several other recommendations should be considered, although the evidence is based primarily on observational studies. According to a 2007 commentary article by Devereaux, reduced maternal intake....

Published On
December 10, 2008

Pollutants

(Asthma: Prevention)

A remarkably wide variety of pollutants, primarily by-products of modern life, have been identified in the literature as possible factors causing or exacerbating asthma. These....

Published On

December 10, 2008

Probiotics

(Asthma: Therapy)

Two systematic reviews of probiotics were located. One stated there was “no effect of probiotics on asthma treatment” (55) and the other stated probiotics may be beneficial in reducing allergy and,....

Published On

February 11, 2009

Relaxation Therapy

(Asthma: Therapy)

A PubMed search for RCT’s on asthma AND hypnotherapy located only 3 studies that were conducted since 1990 (44-46). Although results were promising, one was limited to hayfever patients with....

Published On

February 11, 2009

Spinal Manipulation

(Asthma: Therapy)

Anecdotal evidence and tradition within the chiropractic community, similarly to traditional osteopathic medicine, has generally supported the use of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) in the....

Published On

February 11, 2009

Viral Infection

(Asthma: Prevention)

A longitudinal cohort study of 1214 children concluded that repeated viral infections, other than lower respiratory tract infections, reduced the risk of developing asthma until a child reached....

Published On

December 10, 2008

Yoga

(Asthma: Therapy)

Several small RCT’s have demonstrated yoga may be of limited benefit as a complementary therapy in the treatment of asthma (19-21). A 2008 review of yoga for children stated yoga “may benefit....

Published On