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Monday, January 17, 2011

Here's the new definition of asthma

As you can see from last Monday's post, the definition of asthma is constantly changing. This is a good thing, because it means we're getting smarter. It means we're getting closer to getting this disease under control, and it may some day mean a cure.

Even during my short lifespan the definition of asthma has changed quite a bit. It's important we asthmatics keep up on the current definition, because how asthma is treated is dependent on how it's defined.

In 1985 I was taught the acronym ROAD to easily define asthma, which stands for Reversible Obstructive Airway Disease. ROAD's still valid, yet no longer complete.

Today we know asthma is still ROAD, yet it's also a disease where the air passages inand animal dander. Since 70 percent of asthmatics also have allergies, this type of asthma is often called allergic asthma or atopic asthma. Most asthmatics diagnosed with childhood onset asthma have this type.

3. Mixed: Many asthmatics, me included, have a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic.

Back when ROAD was taught, the goal of asthma therapy was to treat acute symptoms (as I wrote about here). With our new asthma wisdom the goal is to prevent asthma, yet to have a plan to treat acute symptoms when they do occur.

So, current treatment for asthma focuses on the two main components of asthma: Acute bronchospasm and Chronic Inflammation. Yet there are actually four possible components of asthma:

It's recommended that every asthmatic at least have a rescue inhaler on his or her