Asthma Pills vs. Inhaled Corticosteroids
February 23, 2012 by EStella.
Filed under: Asthma Inhalers, Oral Asthma Medications, Buy Singulair.
Tags: asthma pills, inhaled corticosteroids, treatment of asthma, buy singulair, singulair tablets, buy flovent, long-acting rescue medication, asthmatic medicines .
Morning Medicine
British researchers from the University of East Anglia in Norwich discovered that leukotriene-receptor antagonists (LTRAs) showed the same effectiveness, though the cost was substantially more than inhaled corticosteroids as indicated by an earlier 2010 United Kingdom study. Researchers pointed out that LTRAs should be considered for the treatment of asthma not as a substitute but as the first preference.
The New England Journal of Medicine published the results on May 5, 2011, and has since been debated by several groups as to the importance of the finding. Till now, inhaled corticosteroids were considered standard for all asthmatic patients.
The recent finding has raised the question about several patients are being concerns regarding inhalation, complaint about side effects, and whether they could comply in total with the prescribed medication. The added option has presented physicians with an alternate method to treat asthmatic patients based on their diagnosis of symptoms and overall medical condition.
Research was conducted on 650 people in the age group 12 to 80 years who were suffering from mild to extreme asthma. Most of these volunteers had problems controlling their asthma or found it difficult to sustain a good quality of life. The groups were formed randomly based on the way they were used to taking in medications rather than a structured format based on lab tests.
Canada pharmacy showed great interest in the results, as people buy Singulair tablet form or Flovent inhaler form regularly. One study compared the use of asthma pills as first preference with inhaled corticosteroids. The other study was conducted on people who were already on inhaled corticosteroids but then added long-acting rescue medication or LTRAs.
Results of the study clearly indicated after two months that LTRAs were as effective as inhaled corticosteroids when used as the preferred form of treatment. In the second study, results indicated that LTRAs were more effective than long-acting rescue medication when taken as an added emergency medication. Flexibility was allowed to the patients in terms of compliance and changing medications as needed.
A questionnaire was used to determine the effectiveness of the drugs. Patients had to answer questions to 15 items and a score of 15 to 105 was allotted. The higher the score lesser was the impairment due to asthma and better the quality of life. It went on to prove that several options for the treatment of asthma were available, and preference should be given based on effectiveness and compliance with the drug.
BigMountainDrugs.com is capable of delivering all asthmatic medicines at highly subsidized rates maintaining the highest standards possible. The National Institutes of Health has set standards and published literature review with guidelines that does recommend inhaled corticosteroids as the preferred drug for the treatment of asthma. The physician is in the best position at present to diagnose the symptoms and prescribe medication based on the condition of the patient. There are no comments for now. Leave your comments.
Asthma Inhalers Increase Risk of Diabetes and Insulin Resistance
February 27, 2012 by EStella.
Filed under: Asthma Inhalers.
Tags: asthma inhaler, corticosteroids, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma copd, inhaled corticosteroids, risk of diabetes, insulin resistance, montelukast.us, longactinginsulin.com.
Type 2 diabetes
Theses figures came out of a large Canadian study of the records of more than 380,000 asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids. "Patients instituting therapy with high doses of inhaled corticosteroids should be assessed for possible hyperglycemia, and treatment with high doses of inhaled corticosteroids limited to situations where the benefit is clear," warn the researchers, from the Jewish General Hospital and McGill University in Montreal.
More than 30,000 of the asthma/COPD patients included in the study were diagnosed with diabetes over a span of five and a half years –over 14 patients per 1000 inhalers. Nearly 2100 patients who had been previously diagnosed with diabetes experienced a deterioration in their condition, going from being able to control their blood sugar with oral diabetes medication to needing to rely on insulin injections.
Dr. Stuart Weiss, an endocrinologist at the New York Medical Center makes the point that the issue may be a common underlying cause of both diabetes and asthma/COPD, rather than corticosteroids. "We know that steroids increase insulin resistance, and that people treated with steroids require more aggressive diabetes management," he says, "What may be at the root of this problem is the fact that those who are most at risk for diabetes are the same people who have the worst asthma and COPD that requires steroid treatment in the first place." Weiss believes that "the overconsumption of processed foods and the lack of consumption of green vegetables" lead to pre-inflammatory conditions that raise the risk of both diabetes and asthma/COPD. He warns that if Americans don't improve their diets "the incidence of both these diseases will continue to go up at a dramatic rate."
DR. Rohit Katial, a professor of medicine at National Jewish Health, is concerned that the study contained no information about obesity, a significant risk factor for both diabetes and respiratory problems. "For the people on higher doses of medications, was their BMI (body mass index) higher? We don't know."
What the medical experts do agree upon is the need for doctors to prescribe the lowest possible dose of corticosteroids to asthma and COPD patients, and to educate patients about the risks of insulin resistance, becoming insulin dependent, and the possible need for more intensive insulin treatment. There are no comments for now. Leave your comments.
Asthma Inhalers to Become a Thing of the Past?
March 5, 2012 by EStella.
Filed under: Allergies and Asthma, Asthma Inhalers, Oral Asthma Medications.
Tags: oral asthma medication, asthma medicines, asthma inhalers, asthma medications, asthma inhaler, treat asthma attack, asthma treatment, asthma and allergies .
from em-il-ie
The research was funded by Asthma UK, which is, according to Research Relations Manager Dr. Elaine Vickers, "delighted" at the results. "This is a great example of where Asthma UK's research funding is leading to a better understanding of asthma which could ultimately benefit thousands of people with both asthma and allergies," says Vickers.
Researchers have been aware for some time that allergies to common airborne substances such as dust mites and cat dander can cause and/or worsen asthma. Asthma affects over 34 million Americans, and is the most common chronic condition in childhood. About 70 percent of asthmatics have allergies. Previous studies have shown that as many as 40 per cent of children with asthma are allergic to cats.
Allergies are caused by the body's immune system mistaking a normally harmless substance such as dust, pollen or cat dander as an invader. The immune system mounts a defense, triggering chemicals such as histamine. These chemicals cause inflammation, resulting in symptoms such as sneezing, a runny nose, itchy eyes and wheezing.
The Nottingham researchers discovered that an immune system cell receptor called a mannose receptor (MR) plays a significant role in allergic reaction to both dust mites and cat dander (microscopic bits of cat skin). MR not only recognizes allergens, it triggers the immune system to respond to them.
"A better understanding of how the interaction between allergens and the immune system leads to allergy is vital if we are to develop more effective and efficient treatments for this debilitating condition," says one of the lead researchers, Dr. Amir Ghaem-Maghami.
Current asthma treatment usually involves two classes of asthma medication, quick-relief or rescue medications used to treat asthma attacks, and long-term control asthma medicines used to manage chronic symptoms and limit or prevent attacks. Asthma medications are typically provided in a metered-dose asthma inhaler or as dry powder asthma inhalers.
Ironically, cats get asthma too, often as a result of allergies, and are treated with the same inhaled asthma medication as humans. There are no comments for now. Leave your comments.
FDA Bans the Only Available Over-The-Counter Asthma Inhaler
March 14, 2012 by EStella.
Filed under: Asthma Inhalers, Buy Ventolin.
Tags: fda asthma, asthma inhalers, asthma inhaler counter, cfc inhalers, brand ventolin, buy ventolin, asthma medications, generic albuterol, symptoms of asthma, montelukast.us .
Asthma inhaler counter
Epinephrine CFC inhalers, marketed as Primatene Mist, are being phased out because they use CFCs as a spray propellant to move the medicine out of the inhaler so patients can breathe it into their lungs. Many manufacturers have changed their asthma inhalers to replace CFCs with a propellant called hydrofluoroalkane (HFA).
CFCs deplete the earth’s ozone layer - the layer of the atmosphere that protects us from some of the sun’s harmful ultra¬violet radiation. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation can increase the risk of skin cancers and cataracts. The United States is one of many countries which have signed an international agreement to phase out CFCs and other ozone-depleting substances.
HFA propelled asthma inhalers such as albuterol (marketed as name brand Ventolin or generic albuterol) can be used in the same way as epinephrine CFC inhalers. However, they can only be obtained with a prescription, and will be more expensive than the over-the-counter Primatene Mist.
A Primatene replacement cartridge sells for about $18, while an albuterol inhaler can cost $45 or more. Some manufacturers may have patient assistance programs to lower the cost, or asthmatics can buy Ventolin and other asthma medications from Canada at a considerably lower cost (as low as $17 US for generic albuterol).
“There are many other safe and effec¬tive medications to treat the symptoms of asthma,” says Dr. Badrul Chowdhury, PhD., the director of the FDA’s Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Rheumatol¬ogy Products.
Chowdhury stresses that you need to find out if you really have asthma, and not just pick another over-the-counter asthma medication. “If you have breathing problems but have not been diag-nosed by a health care professional it’s important to see one," Chowdhury advises, "Not all breath¬ing problems are asthma, so you need to get an accurate diagnosis and the proper medicine."
The FDA has the following advice for consumers who use Primatene mist:
• See a health care professional soon to get another medicine. A doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner can all help you determine the best treatment option for you. Primatene Mist may be harder to find on store shelves even before Dec. 31, 2011. If you don’t have a doctor or other health care professional, you can find one by:
- Asking a family member, friend, or co-worker what doctor they use and would recommend.
- Visiting a federally funded health center, where patients pay to see a doctor based on their income and what they can afford. Visit findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov, or call 888-275- 4772 to learn more.
- Visiting a local clinic, community health center, or minute clinic (sometimes located in a pharmacy).
• Ask your health care professional to show you how to use your new asthma inhaler or other medicine to make sure you are using it correctly and getting the right dose.
• Follow the directions for using and cleaning your new asthma inhaler or other medicine to make sure you get relief of your symptoms.
• If you haven’t used up your Primatene Mist by Dec. 31, 2011, it’s safe to continue using it as long as it hasn’t expired. Check the expiration date, which can be found on the product and its packaging. There are no comments for now. Leave your comments.
Mobile Health Monitoring – The Future of Health Care?
June 24, 2012 by Julia.
Filed under: Asthma Inhalers, Asthma Preventions, Living with Asthma, News Asthma, Buy Singulair.
Tags: mobile health, smartphones, iphones, android devices, mobile apps, long acting insulin dosage, crestor dosage, .
Mobile Health
Quite a few of these options require a doctor’s help on the other side, so talk to your doctor about any mobile apps or programs they may already be using. Here are eleven up-and-coming technological advances in health. Look for these in the news, they can help you keep your conditions under control.
Extended Care eVisits – If you’re a patient in a nursing home or other long-term facility, you can converse with a doctor through a video portal on a pushcart or a robot.
Home Telehealth – Once you leave the hospital or doctor’s office, and you go home to manage your chronic disease in your daily life, you can monitor it with tools — such as desktop devices that measure blood pressure or blood sugar levels — and send the data automatically to your doctor, to catch issues early. Your doctor will be able to adjust your long-acting insulin dosage more quickly, allowing for better treatment.
Tele-Stroke Care – If you’re having a stroke and you go to a hospital that has this technology — a “telemedicine” connection to a hub center staffed by stroke specialists — they can offer an expert assessment of how you should be treated.
Mobile Clinical Decision Support- Using devices such as tablets or smartphones, doctors can access the latest protocols or treatment regimens for their patients.
Virtual Visits – As a patient, you can be seen via video by your doctor through a Web portal, whether on your own personal computer or a tablet or smartphone. For patients who live in more rural areas, this may save them a trip to the clinic or emergency room.
Mobile Diabetes Management Tools - If you’re a diabetic, this is the next generation of glucose monitor: You gather your data through your phone or a device that connects to it and then you can transmit it in real-time to your doctor. You can also quickly get feedback or educational materials.
Medication Adherence Tools – If you’ve been prescribed medication, your smartphone or other new technology — including “smart pill caps” — can give you real-time reminders to take your medicine. And if you don’t, they can send a message to your doctor to follow up with you. Your phone may also be able to remind you to refill your Crestor dosage, and what time of day to be taking eating medication.
Mobile Asthma Management Tools – If you have asthma, you could attach a GPS tool to your asthma monitor so that whenever you use your inhaler, it logs where and when you used it. You can then start to figure out whether certain environmental factors like allergens are located. You can then be prepared with your emergency inhaler, and avoid such areas that give you particular problems. If you are forced to enter high-pollen areas often, be sure to take an oral or inhaled corticosteroid such as a Singulair 10mg or generic Advair.
In-Car Telehealth – Cars with the latest information technology could monitor your heart rate or blood glucose level, or alert you to asthma triggers. The car system might, for example, tell you to pull over if your blood glucose level gets too low, or automatically close its vents if you’re driving through an area with a high pollen count.
Social Media Promoting Health – All sorts of new social media platforms, from online meeting places to Facebook pages, can connect you with other patients to learn about your care regimen. Social media sites can also give you small actions you can take on a daily basis to lead a healthier lifestyle. Multiple studies have discussed the impact of emotional support to a patient’s health, particularly for life threatening conditions such as pulmonary fibrosis.
Mobile Cardiovascular Tools – Similar to other disease monitoring tools: If you have heart disease, a blood pressure monitor could connect to your mobile phone and log data that could be transmitted to your doctor. Next time you go in, your doctor may have already adjusted your prescription, to help you more quickly.There are no comments for now. Leave your comments.
Asthma Isn’t Just for Kids
October 23, 2012 by Teresa.
Filed under: Asthma Attack Triggers, Asthma in Children, Asthma Inhalers, Living with Asthma, Risk for Asthma.
Tags: adult on-set asthma, asthma symptoms, adult on-set, childhood asthma, developing asthma, occupational asthma, risk, trigger, asthma attack, children with asthma, advair diskus 250/50, breathing proble.
In about 50% of the adult-onset cases, the individual also has allergies. For instance, people who are allergic to cats may have increased risk of developing asthma. Occupational Asthma is sometimes diagnosed in adults as well. This means that substances in the workplace induced the attack.
Some women first develop asthma during pregnancy, suggesting that there may be a correlation between hormonal changes and adult asthma. Women going through menopause appear to be more likely to develop asthma. In fact, women who take estrogen tablets for ten or more years are 50% more likely to develop asthma.
Viruses and infections can trigger a first-time asthma attack. Symptoms can arise after a respiratory infection such as bronchitis, pneumonia or colds and flus.
Unlike children with asthma, adults have more persistent symptoms rather than intermittent ones. They may have to take medications such as Advair Diskus 250/50 to help control their symptoms. Also, as people age their natural lung capacity decreases, often making it more difficult for doctors to recognize the asthma symptoms for what they really are and so postponing a diagnosis. It also becomes easier to make a misdiagnosis by mistaking the symptoms for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or stomach problems.
If you are experiencing breathing problems, respiratory issues, or notice that when you are in certain environments that your symptoms increase, make an appointment to see your doctor. Undiagnosed adult-onset asthma is dangerous. There are treatments that will alleviate your symptoms and improve your quality of life. There are no comments for now. Leave your comments.
The Benefits of Switching To Eco-Friendly Asthma Inhalers
January 24, 2013 by Mayank.
Filed under: Asthma Inhalers.
Tags: eco-friendly asthma inhalers, chlorofluorocarbons, cfcs, asthma inhalers, hydrofluoroalkane inhalers, hfa inhalers.
Slowly and steadily, more and more people are taking responsibility for their actions and trying to implement small and gradual measures that will, hopefully, reverse the damage the planet has suffered. A part of that initiative has been banning chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) – a compound that has been linked to the damage of the ozone layer.
Following the terms of “The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer” – a treaty signed by countries worldwide, the U.S. stopped producing and importing CFCs for commercial use in 1996. However, CFC asthma inhalers were initially excluded from the ban since there were no other alternatives. In 2005, a deadline was announced by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) encouraging people to make a switch to ozone-friendly inhalers, which are also referred to as hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) inhalers, by 31 December 2008.
Millions of people suffering from asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have started using HFA inhalers and most of them are happy with the switch. The medicines in both work the same way, although users have reported some minor differences between both. To begin with, many prefer the feel of HFA inhalers, saying that it is warmer and softer at the back of their throat. Also, since the spray is lighter and doesn’t blow so hard, it prevents side effects like hoarseness of voice, sore throat and thrush (a form of mouth infection).
On the flip side, since the jet from HFA inhalers are so gentle, patients end up feeling they haven’t got the same amount dosage as they used to earlier. However, experts and doctors are trying to convince users that the new eco-friendly inhalers are just as effective and it’s all a matter of adjusting to them. For instance, when using them, it’s important to remember that you have to take long, slow breaths and allow 30 seconds between puffs. Don’t worry if you don’t get it the first time.
HFA inhalers demand special maintenance. Before being used, they have to be primed by pumping it four times. This is a critical factor that all patients should remember. In addition, they must be washed every week. Before doing so, remove the canister and run warm water through the mouthpiece. It should be reassembled only after it has been dried out completely. Unless you follow proper maintenance procedure, they can clog easily.
Perhaps the only biggest complaint as far as HFA inhalers are concerned is regarding the price factor. Attempts are being made to reduce the prices; however, there is no denying that it does tend to weigh heavily on most pockets. Cash strapped asthmatics can take advantage of the sponsor donations organized by drug companies. Alternatively, they could also ask their doctor for free samples they keep around the clinic.
In addition to being effective, HFA inhalers are also environment friendly. True, they are priced steeply, but the cost is expected to go down in a few years’ time, at which point making a ‘green’ inhaler choice will not just be a conscientious decision, but a financially viable option as well. There are no comments for now. Leave your comments.
