The People's Perspective on MedicineArticles categorized as Asthma
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The People's Perspective on Medicine© 2026 The People's Pharmacy
All Rights Reserved
The People's Perspective on MedicineLoading articles..
The People's Perspective on Medicine© 2026 The People's Pharmacy
All Rights Reserved
Air quality is key for breathing better. We discuss pollution from smoke as well as trouble with infection and inflammation.
One of the oldest medications for asthma is theophylline. It is somewhat similar to caffeine. That's why in a pinch, coffee opens airways.
Are some hard-to-treat asthma cases caused by an infection? Research suggests that may be the case. Curing asthma is not easy, but some people say it is possible.
In this interview, an expert in critical care and pulmonology offers evidence-based tips on how to recover more quickly if you catch the flu.
What happens when prescribers ignore FDA drug warnings? Patients are harmed or die. We share stories about montelukast and amiodarone.
The diabetes drug metformin is showing promise against other difficult conditions: asthma, fibrotic diseases and cancers, to name just a few.
The practice of hypnosis can help patients manage a wide range of health problems, so long as they are hypnotizable.
Women who use cleaning sprays and other cleaning products at least once a week see their lung function decline more quickly than those who do not.
A careful analysis of nine clinical trials of vitamin D found that supplements cut the rate of scary asthma flares approximately in half.
The FDA says it will now allow Florida to import drugs from Canada. Is it now legal for the rest of us? Learn about the latest FDA flip flop.
The maker of Primatene Mist brought this OTC asthma inhaler back on the market after eight years away. What are the benefits and risks?
How good are generic drugs? FDA reports problems in India! Authorized generic drugs (AGs) offer an alternative. GSK will make a Flovent AG.
Many countries permit pharmacists to prescribe behind the counter drugs such as antivirals, antibiotics, and asthma meds. Why not in the US?
Hair straighteners used mostly by African-American women contain hormone disrupting chemicals and are linked to uterine cancer.
Vaccines makers have put aluminum in vaccines for decades. How safe is this adjuvant? It stimulates the immune system, for good or bad.
Did you know that dry powder inhalers for asthma or COPD often contain lactose? Neither did we. Lactose in ADVAIR DISKUS can cause problems.
Our guests argue that climate change is the greatest threat to global health. What can we do about it?
Gastroenterologist Emeran Mayer explains how your microbiome shapes your immune response and why you should take care of it.
Do asthma inhalers cause hoarseness? If you haven't seen the Trelegy for COPD 'The Power of 1-2-3' ad, please watch it! Trelegy side effects?
Evidence shows that SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, moves like an aerosol. How can we avoid airborne viral transmission?
How are parents and grandparents keeping kids healthy when they can't go to school or the playground? Dr. Alan Greene has suggestions for families, 4/18/20.
Babies exposed to the fumes from common household cleaners during their first few months are more likely to develop asthma as youngsters.
Asthma treatment used to seem simple: a corticosteroid inhaler plus a bronchodilator. A study in the NEJM has turned things upside down. Asthma is complex!
Inner city children with strong vitamin D blood levels are less likely to develop asthma upon exposure to indoor air pollution.
Each of us is surrounded by an exposome–an invisible cloud of bacteria, viruses, fungi and volatile compounds that can have an effect on our health.
A study suggests that children under two years old have a sweet tooth. Their diets have a surprising amount of added sugar.
A Dutch study shows that you don't have to be a farmer to have immune system benefits from exposure to animals and their microbes. People who live near farms have fewer allergies.
What would you do if your were stranded on a desert island? What about if the power went out for several months? What are the best drugs in such extreme situations?
Have you been troubled with hoarseness from Advair? One reader found that treating asthma with Singulair instead took care of the problem.
Prescription drugs have become pricey. That's why insurance companies may try to save money by encouraging patients to buy mail order medicines. Are there problems with this practice?
We'll bet you have never heard of SIL (steroid inhaler laryngitis). It's supposed to be very rare. But a lot of readers report hoarseness from asthma or COPD inhalers.
How do you store your medicine. Hopefully NOT in the bathroom medicine chest--too hot and humid! Mail-order medicines can freeze in your mail box or roast in the summer sun.
Is it possible to cure asthma? Some people seem to think so. Is there any evidence to support the idea that doctors can do more than treat symptoms?
New research shows that sex hormones have different effects on airway inflammation. Testosterone blocks a pro-inflammatory protein.
Women using inhaled steroids for asthma or COPD breathing problems were 40 percent more likely to have metabolic syndrome.
One in three Canadian adults being treated for asthma did not meet diagnostic criteria for the disease, according to a study published in JAMA.
French people who ate four or more servings of cured meats a week were more likely to wheeze or suffer from asthma than those who ate one or fewer.
Babies whose mothers took fish oil supplements during pregnancy were less likely to develop asthma by age three.
Scientist find that early-life exposure to house dust rich in microbes explains why children in Amish communities are much less prone to asthma.
The asthma problem in American (and around the world) is getting worse. For many it has origins in allergy. Others, though, may have a smoldering infection.
Yoga practice was found to improve the quality of life for people with asthma; previous studies suggest benefits for post-stroke recovery and PTSD.
A reader was surprised to find that a prolonged course of azithromycin got rid of long-standing asthma symptoms. Did the drug cure asthma?
BPA, an endocrine disruptor, is found in the lining of soup cans, but Campbell's Soup has just announced that its cans will become BPA-free.
Could intensive treatment with an antibiotic get rid of symptoms like wheezing and shortness of breath? Might it be a miracle cure for asthma?
Catching a cold may be more dangerous for children with asthma, since it could lead to an episode of difficult breathing.
In a study comparing vitamin D supplements to placebo, people with asthma did not get fewer or less severe colds when they took vitamin D supplements.
Can people really save money buying drugs from Canada? Is it worth the challenge? Find out about the price discrepancy between U.S. and Canadian pharmacies.
Growing up with dogs or living on a farm appears to make children less susceptible to asthma, perhaps because of exposure to a wider range of bacteria.
Marijuana was prescribed over 100 years ago to help ease asthma symptoms. Is there any research to support the medical use of marijuana for asthma?
One study shows aerobic exercise helps control asthma symptoms and lowers important markers of lung inflammation.
A Mycobacterium infection in the lungs could become chronic and cause symptoms that resemble those of asthma.
A long-term course of the antibiotic azithromycin helped me shake off recurrent bouts of asthma that would not quit.
Asthma symptoms such as wheezing, persistent coughing and other lung problems may respond to antibiotic treatment with Z-Pak (azithromycin).
Irritating cleaning products such as bleach or ammonia can exacerbate symptoms in people with asthma.
Genistein supplements derived from soy did not reduce asthma symptoms in adults and kids with poorly controlled asthma.
When breathing does not improve despite inhaled drugs, it makes sense to see if treating a hidden lung infection leads to an asthma cure.
Prednisone treatment for asthma led to anxiety, insomnia, disruptive behavior and delusions. Patients should be warned about such side effects.
Many asthma patients don't know how to use a metered dose inhaler for optimum effect.
Ascorbic acid lozenges help quell the cough due to asthma.
Children who were exposed to high levels of the endocrine disruptor BPA while in utero are at greater risk of developing asthma symptoms as toddlers.
September is the most dangerous month for people with asthma because ragweed pollen, mold and upper respiratory infections can trigger severe attacks.
Sudden-onset asthma threatened Jim Quinlan's lifestyle and his life, until he was successfully treated for a C. pneumoniae infection.
There may be advantages for youngsters living with dogs. Exposure to a range of bacteria associated with animals reduces the risk of asthma.
Tiotropium, the active ingredient in Spiriva, is an anticholinergic compound. Anticholinergic drugs can cause dry mouth, connstipation and mental fogginess.
Many epidemiological studies link acetaminophen use to an increased risk of asthma among infants and children. Some experts remain undecided.
Early exposure to a wide range of bacteria, especially those associated with farm animals, may help children avoid asthma as they grow up.
Epidemiological data link acetaminophen use to an increased risk of wheezing and asthma among children and adolescents.
