People with asthma are likely to benefit from combining medications to manage their symptoms, a strategy that requires doctors and patients to work together to tweak prescriptions. [s]Reuters Health[/s] reports that based on a review of data from 64 asthma drug trials, the study by [b]Dutch[/b] researchers found that patients using inhaled corticosteroids with a long-acting bronchodilator had about half as many symptom flare ups and asthma attacks as those just on the steroids. Lead author Dr Rik Loijmans, from the [b]Academic Medical Centre[/b] at the [b]University of Amsterdam[/b] said although the worst breathing problems associated with asthma usually occur in episodes or ‘attacks,’ the problem of a sensitive, swelling airway is constant. Treating asthma means being able to take medication that works quickly to relieve an attack as well as one that will keep the swelling under control.
[link url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/29/us-asthma-treatment-review-idUSKBN0E927620140529]Full Reuters Health report[/link]
[link url=http://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g3009]British Medical Journal abstract[/link]