Of the millions of people in the United States who suffer from asthma, most are able to keep their symptoms under control and lead normal lives. However, there are a number of individuals who have a severe form of this chronic respiratory disease that can be debilitating and potentially deadly. Unfortunately, reports SFGate, there have been few studies on how to treat severe asthma up until recently.
"Severe asthma is usually defined as a form of the illness that is not well controlled, or requires frequent large doses of corticosteroids and other medications," explains the source. "Severe asthma often causes serious symptoms – and it can be fatal – that result in regular doctor visits or missed days of work or school."
According to the news outlet, Dr. John Fahy is leading a study at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) that aims to "identify basic biological markers of severe asthma" and develop new and improved drugs for those whose symptoms are particularly serious.
"We're very focused on this drive toward personalized medicine by recognizing that not all asthma is the same," Fahey said in an interview with the source.
It's always encouraging to see that the scientific community is taking steps toward better understanding asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases. Hopefully this will lead to more effective treatments for the people who suffer from these conditions.
If you're looking for ways to treat your asthma in addition to taking the medication that your doctor has prescribed to you, consider purchasing asthma and allergy control products like allergenic bedding.
