Thursday, March 25, 2010

RPI Course focues on Asthma

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is currently offering a course studying asthma called Asthmatic Spaces - New York. The course studies and publishes real time research findings about asthma and its affect on public health throughout the state. Kim Fortun, the professor who created the class, chose asthma as the subject because:
...of its impact on public health, because of its scientific complexity, and
because of the way it draws together people with many different kinds of
expertise — in health care, basic science, air quality assessment, building
design, genetics, and many other areas

Students will also contribute to The Asthma Files, a public site for all research asthma related which is updated by professors, researchers, doctors, activists, etc.

quote taken from: http://news.rpi.edu/update.do?artcenterkey=2699

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

DC Habitat for Humanity Fundraiser at the Passenger

Great bar. Great organization. Come out!

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/event.php?eid=368749616492&index=1

A Step (walking -- not running) in the Right Direction

I kept good with my new years promise to myself to get my asthma under control by visiting a pulmonologist today. After ending up in the ER on Christmas Eve I realized that taking a resue inhaler alone was not going to cut it anymore -- I needed to be placed on some maintenance medication.

I'm back on Singulair -- an asthma medication I've taken on and off for years in the past, and in general has worked well for me. Unlike the past times I've taken it, I plan on sticking to it this time. I'm determined to let my asthma affect me as little as possible. I even have a follow-up in six weeks. Lets hope there's some progress!

Thursday, March 18, 2010

New research being done by FDA & AstraZeneca

A common ingredient in some asthma medications is undergoing safety research. One of the medications affected -- Symbicort.

Check out the press release HERE.

I haven't read too much about Symbicort before this. Interesting all the research that goes into medications.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Friday, March 12, 2010

The Growth of Singulair

When I was 14 I was prescribed singular to help me get my asthma under control and ever since then I've been on and off the medication. I just read in THIS article that it is one of the most prescribed asthma medications in the world. It says:


Strong Singulair growth driven by allergic rhinitis indication Singulair sales grew by 57% in the fourth quarter of 2002 and grew 35% in 2003 to reach sales of $2 billion for the year. At present it is the most prescribed asthma controller in the US and the second leading product in global total prescription. Merck received FDA approval for Singulair for the relief of symptoms caused by seasonal allergic rhinitis. It is the only brand targeted at both asthma and allergic rhinitis. The company is expected to benefit from patient dissatisfaction with other brands, brand switching and physician familiarity with Singulair as an asthma treatment.


In the coming weeks I'm looking on going back on maintenance medications for my asthma. Singulair will definitely be something I'll be talking to my doctor about.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Childhood onset asthma... Genetic?

THIS is interesting.

The above article suggests that researchers have found a genetic mutation that causes childhood onset asthma. If true and they can figure out which gene it is, better treatments will be able to be developed. This could make a world of difference to the 9 million children in the US with asthma.

(And if they develop something for adults, you bet I'll be the first to go to my doctor to learn more about it!)

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Get Cleaner California!

Get cleaner AIR. A recent study by RAND Corporation found that between 2005 and 2007, $193 million was spent on health care as a result of air pollution. Common reasons people went to the hospital -- asthma and pneumonia

Read more HERE

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

I've been sneezing all winter

... and THIS might have something to do with it!

According to the article from BusinessWeek, climate change has caused pollen season to last even longer. For those people with mild allergies, in some cases it has made them worse. For those of us with severe allergies, the thought of springtime and warm weather has become not as pleasant.

If you start to feel like your allergies are acting up, don't hesitate to go to your doctor - we have a long pollen season ahead of us