by Jeffrey Bramnick

Some adults with mild, persistent asthma might not need daily doses of drugs that control inflammation, says a major study in The New England Journal of Medicine. Those people may do just as well if they take corticosteroids only when they need them.

The study, funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, could change the way doctors treat a lot of asthma cases. But people shouldn’t just stop taking their daily drugs, the researchers warn. Instead, they should work out a treatment plan with their doctors.

Patients with mild, persistent asthma have acute symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing or chest tightness, more than twice a week but not every day. Or perhaps symptoms wake them up at night more than twice a month.

“The study provides good information, but you want to be careful that asthmatics don’t learn about this and begin to make decisions without consulting their physicians,” says William H. Anderson, M.D., a spokesman for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. “Treatment plans for asthmatics need to be highly individualized.”

Asthma leads to more than 2 million emergency room visits a year. Most can be avoided, he says. People with asthma can head off trouble by working closely with their doctors, sticking to their treatment and paying close attention to their triggers.

Lung function tests can help patients learn more about their asthma.

Cutting back on antiinflammatory drugs might be a good idea just for those whose asthma is well controlled with other medications. “An inhaled daily steroid is still the preferred treatment,” Dr. Anderson says. “It’s very low dose, and side effects are minimal.”

Asthma Myths Abound
False beliefs surround asthma, says William H. Anderson, M.D.

“Many people assume that all asthmatics have the illness to the same degree and that asthma is always severe,” he says. Yet most asthma cases aren’t severe. Most can be managed if the patient and the doctor work as a team.

“People underestimate how many cases are mild to moderate,” he adds. “They don’t realize that adults and kids can manage their asthma, lead healthy, active lives, participate in exercise and phys-ed classes — as long as they’re educated and they work to manage their asthma.”

INTEGRIS Health 3300 N.W. Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK 73112 (405) 949-3011 | HealthLine: (888) 951-2277