Asthma is one of the better known chronic conditions in the world today. Current statistics estimate that there are up to two children in each class who suffer from asthma and as such most kids will have experienced the disease at some point in their lives, be it directly or indirectly. Essentially asthma is an inflammatory respiratory condition which affects the smaller airways in the lungs known as bronchioles. These get clogged up with phlegm or simply swell shut. When this occurs, asthmatic patients will find it increasingly hard to breathe and it’s very possible they’ll die if the right steps aren’t taken. These steps generally involve the use of an inhaler to cure the more immediate effects and nullify the inflammation.
Most asthmatic patients will take two kinds of drug. One to deal with any immediate symptoms, and one to deal with and ease the more long term issues of asthma. The second kind of treatment is supposed to lessen the need for the first kind but due to asthma’s sensitivity to the environment this doesn’t always work out as it should.
One of the most popular asthma treatments in the USA has just been accused of being potentially harmful. It’s called Advair and at this point in time it’s grossed over four billion dollars’ worth of sales, it’s that popular. The issue is that it’s a combined treatment which both deals with immediate symptoms and longer lasting issues, doing the job of both standard treatments. Doctors have become concerned that the combination, when used at the same time as with Advair may actually hide worsening levels of inflammation in the lungs. This is potentially dangerous as it could lead to a severe attack which could lead to a patient’s death.
The company responsible for creating Advair are launching all sorts of tests and trials to work out if this is the case. For now they refute the claims that their drug is harmful.
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