Asthma: is it still seen as a 'minor' condition?

Asthma affects more than 25 million people in the US - surpassing the number of people with Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and cancer put together. But asthma is not as serious as these conditions, right? Wrong. Asthma kills 3,300 Americans annually and is responsible for more than a quarter of all emergency room visits each year.

The majority of asthma-related hospital visits and deaths are preventable. But it is partly down to lack of awareness that such incidents occur. Many sufferers do not view their symptoms as serious enough to warrant treatment or control. People whose asthma is not under control can potentially be thrown into a life-threatening situation by the condition.

Read more...

Asthma Linked to Bone Loss in Study

THURSDAY, May 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) — People with asthma could be at higher risk of bone loss, new research suggests.

But it’s not clear how the two conditions might be related.

“We know prolonged use of corticosteroids in the treatment of asthma is a risk factor of osteoporosis, but we haven’t had definite data showing the relationship between asthma itself and bone loss,” study author Dr. Jae-Woo Jung said in a news release from the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI).

“This study has shown a meaningful association between the two conditions, even in the absence of previous oral corticosteroid use,” noted Jung.

Read more...