Steroid inhalers commonly used to prevent asthma attacks may not work any better than a placebo for many people with mild asthma, according to recent research. Synthetic corticosteroids mimic the steroid hormone cortisol, reducing inflammation in the airways. But the drug targets a type of inflammation that may be found in far fewer patients than…
Parents who smoke cigarettes put their children and others around them at risk for bronchitis, pneumonia and a variety of other ailments. But a new study offers another method to help them quit lighting up. Researchers tested a smoking cessation program in five states in the South and the Midwest, finding it had success in…
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents a major burden to global health, and it is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Intense research has expanded our knowledge of pathophysiology and therapeutic targets and allowed for the personalization of treatment. The following review provides five disease-related COPD updates. 1. Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction Bronchoscopic lung…
Video telehealth rehabilitation reduced the rates that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had to be readmitted within 30 days after they were hospitalized for a pulmonary exacerbation, according to a study. The findings were published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine in a study titled “Video Telehealth Pulmonary Rehabilitation Intervention in COPD Reduces 30-day…
Circassia announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved its medication Duaklir for the maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The company plans to launch the therapy in the United States in the second half of 2019. Duaklir is a combination of two long-acting bronchodilators: aclidinium bromide (400 mcg) and formoterol fumarate (12 mcg). It…
People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) need more support when understanding and acting on new chest symptoms, a study in the journal Psycho-Oncology reports. During this unique study, led by the University of Glasgow and University of Surrey, researchers investigated how the experience of COPD, influences how individuals understand new or changing chest symptoms and their…
Hospitalized patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who tested positive for the flu and were unvaccinated had worse death rates and more severe illness than those who were vaccinated, according to a recent study. A large national study from Canada showed influenza vaccination is effective in reducing flu-related hospitalizations among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary…
Testosterone replacement therapy can help slow the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in men, a new study shows. Men with COPD tend to experience shortness of breath, leading physicians to prescribe them long-term steroid-based medications. While these medications help treat pulmonary symptoms, they are also associated with testosterone dysfunction. Accordingly, previous studies have shown that…