Will inhalers be a thing of yesteryear for millions of asthma sufferers?
In the United States, an estimated
1 in 12 people suffer from asthma, with sharp increases in recent years:
The number of people diagnosed with asthma grew by 4.3 million from 2001 to 2009. From 2001 through 2009 asthma rates rose the most among black children, almost a 50% increase. Asthma was linked to 3,447 deaths (about 9 per day) in 2007. Asthma costs in the US grew from about $53 billion in 2002 to about $56 billion in 2007, about a 6% increase. Greater access to medical care is needed for the growing number of people with asthma.
Worldwide an estimated
300 million people suffer from asthma.
This week, scientists in Britain have made a stunning announcement that could save the lives of thousands each year:
In a breakthrough which could change the lives of Britain’s five million sufferers, researchers at Cardiff University and Kings College London identified which cells cause the airways to narrow when triggered by irritants like pollution.
Crucially, drugs already exist which can deactivate the cells. They are known as calcilytics and are used to treat people with osteoporosis.
The scientists are hopeful that in the future asthmatics take the drug to prevent an attack ever happening and ending the need to constantly carry an inhaler.
Researchers are thrilled:
Dr Samantha Walker, Director of Research and Policy at Asthma UK, who helped fund the research, said:
"This hugely exciting discovery enables us, for the first time, to tackle the underlying causes of asthma symptoms.
If you or a loved one suffer from chronic asthma, this could be the cure you've been waiting for.