August 19, 2020

Birth Control Pill Could Cut Women's Risk for Asthma

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2020 -- Could birth control pills build a bulwark against asthma?

New research suggests that hormonal contraceptives, which alter the natural ebb and flow of female hormones, may do just that.

August 17, 2020

As Climate Change Intensifies Storms, Seniors' Health Could Suffer: Study

TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2020 -- Global warming may ultimately rain on everyone's parade, but new research suggests that major thunderstorms are already wreaking some havoc on the respiratory health of seniors.

That's because atmospheric changes that precede storms increase the risk that older people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) could develop breathing problems serious enough to send them to the hospital.

July 21, 2020

Using Fewer Asthma Meds May Be Safe Option for Some

TUESDAY, July 21, 2020 -- People with asthma often need several medications to control their wheezing, but new research suggests that some can use less without suffering an asthma flare.

Yet that's not what usually happens, the researchers said.

July 21, 2020

Pulmonary Rehab Can Help People With COPD, So Why Do So Few Get It?

MONDAY, May 18, 2020 -- Roughly 16 million Americans have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but only a fraction have access to a lifesaving treatment called pulmonary rehabilitation.

COPD is a family of diseases, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, that make breathing difficult and worsens over time. The main cause is smoking. Other causes include secondhand smoke and exposure to polluted air, chemical fumes or dusts. There is no cure.

June 29, 2020

Asthma Isn't a Risk Factor for Worsening COVID-19: Study

FRIDAY, June 19, 2020 -- People with asthma can breathe a little easier: New research suggests the condition does not increase your risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19.

A review of records from 10 hospitals affiliated with Northwestern Medicine turned up more than 1,500 patients with COVID-19. Of these, 14% had asthma.