Asthma
Winter weather plays a role in spring allergies, expert says
(HealthDay)—The start of allergy season is overlapping with the cold and flu season in some parts of the United States, leading some people to wonder which ailment they have, an expert says.
Immunology
Mar 03, 2013 |
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Helping your child cope with a chronic medical condition
Chronic illness takes a significant toll on children, but the psychological toll can often go overlooked. Children with chronic illness are twice as likely to have more emotional or behavioral challenges in comparison to ...
Health
Mar 01, 2013 |
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BPA raises risk for childhood asthma
Researchers at the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health at the Mailman School of Public Health are the first to report an association between early childhood exposure to the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) and an ...
Immunology
Mar 01, 2013 |
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Marine compound discovery shows promise of improved drug treatment for COPD patients
(Medical Xpress)—Pharmacy researchers at the University of Florida have isolated a new marine compound they believe may lead to improved drug therapies for pulmonary diseases by inhibiting their progression rather than ...
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Feb 28, 2013 |
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How much will I be charged? Study examines patient bills for top 10 visits to the emergency room
It's a basic, reasonable question: How much will this cost me? For patients in the emergency room, the answer all too often is a mystery.
Health
Feb 27, 2013 |
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Scientists discover molecule that does double duty in stopping asthma attacks
Scientists from Brigham and Women's Hospital are on the brink of the next treatment advancement that may spell relief for the nearly nineteen million adults and seven million children in the United States ...
Inflammatory disorders
Feb 27, 2013 |
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Medical researchers raise alarm on overdiagnosis
One of the world's top medical journals has launched a campaign against overdiagnosis, where people are diagnosed with medical conditions they don't have and prescribed medicine they don't need.
Health
Feb 27, 2013 |
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Researchers explore PKC role in lung disease
New research examines the role of PKC in airway smooth muscle contraction and raises the possibility that this enzyme could be a therapeutic target for treating asthma, COPD, and other lung diseases.
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Feb 25, 2013 |
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Allergy 'rescue' shots may work better in lower thigh of overweight kids
(HealthDay)—In overweight and obese children who suffer a severe allergic reaction, it may be more effective to inject epinephrine into the lower thigh rather than the upper thigh, according to a new study.
Immunology
Feb 25, 2013 |
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Tweaking gene expression to repair lungs
A healthy lung has some capacity to regenerate itself like the liver. In COPD, these reparative mechanisms fail. HDAC therapies may be useful for COPD, as well as other airway diseases. The levels of HDAC2 ...
Medical research
Feb 25, 2013 |
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Food allergies tied to impaired growth in kids
(HealthDay)—Food allergies appear to affect children's growth, a new study suggests.
Immunology
Feb 25, 2013 |
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Asthma drug found highly effective in treating chronic, severe hives and itch
An international team of researchers has found that a once-a-month, high-dose injection of a commonly used asthma drug is highly effective in treating teens and adults chronically afflicted with hives and severe, itchy rash. ...
Immunology
Feb 24, 2013 |
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A few extra pounds may harm lung function in black, hispanic kids
(HealthDay)—Even a small amount of extra weight can have a negative effect on the lung function of Hispanic and black children, according to a new study.
Overweight and Obesity
Feb 22, 2013 |
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Large-scale Japanese genomics project finds eight new loci linked to atopic dermatitis
Around one in ten Japanese school children suffer from a debilitating form of eczema known as atopic dermatitis (AD). Despite clear signs that the condition is heritable, the genetic origins of the disease ...
Genetics
Feb 22, 2013 |
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'Green' homes save money but can trap air pollution indoors
In an effort to protect the environment and save on energy costs, we are in the midst of a "green" home boom in this country. While that may bode well from an energy-efficiency standpoint, the trend certainly doesn't have ...
Health
Feb 21, 2013 |
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Asthma (from the Greek άσθμα, ásthma, "panting") is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Asthma is clinically classified according to the frequency of symptoms, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow rate. Asthma may also be classified as atopic (extrinsic) or non-atopic (intrinsic).
It is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Treatment of acute symptoms is usually with an inhaled short-acting beta-2 agonist (such as salbutamol). Symptoms can be prevented by avoiding triggers, such as allergens and irritants, and by inhaling corticosteroids. Leukotriene antagonists are less effective than corticosteroids and thus less preferred.
Its diagnosis is usually made based on the pattern of symptoms and/or response to therapy over time. The prevalence of asthma has increased significantly since the 1970s. As of 2010, 300 million people were affected worldwide. In 2009 asthma caused 250,000 deaths globally. Despite this, with proper control of asthma with step down therapy, prognosis is generally good.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
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