July 21, 2020

Using Fewer Asthma Meds May Be Safe Option for Some

TUESDAY, July 21, 2020 -- People with asthma often need several medications to control their wheezing, but new research suggests that some can use less without suffering an asthma flare.

Yet that's not what usually happens, the researchers said.

July 21, 2020

Pulmonary Rehab Can Help People With COPD, So Why Do So Few Get It?

MONDAY, May 18, 2020 -- Roughly 16 million Americans have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but only a fraction have access to a lifesaving treatment called pulmonary rehabilitation.

COPD is a family of diseases, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, that make breathing difficult and worsens over time. The main cause is smoking. Other causes include secondhand smoke and exposure to polluted air, chemical fumes or dusts. There is no cure.

June 29, 2020

Asthma Isn't a Risk Factor for Worsening COVID-19: Study

FRIDAY, June 19, 2020 -- People with asthma can breathe a little easier: New research suggests the condition does not increase your risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19.

A review of records from 10 hospitals affiliated with Northwestern Medicine turned up more than 1,500 patients with COVID-19. Of these, 14% had asthma.

June 15, 2020

Asthma Ups Ventilator Needs of Younger Adults With COVID-19: Study

WEDNESDAY, May 20, 2020 Young to middle-aged asthmatics who are hospitalized for COVID-19 are likely to be on a ventilator longer than patients without asthma, new research reports.

Patients with asthma who were between 20 and 59 years of age needed a ventilator to help with breathing five days longer than patients without asthma in that age group, researchers reported.

June 1, 2020

Coronavirus Fears Have People With Asthma, Emphysema Avoiding the ER

TUESDAY, April 21, 2020 -- Doctors are increasingly worried that people are mistaking stay-at-home orders to mean they should avoid emergency medical care -- including for serious lung diseases.

People with chronic lung conditions, such as emphysema and moderate to severe asthma, are among those at higher risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19. And medical experts have been urging them to be vigilant about protecting themselves.