Those recently diagnosed with asthma, a chronic condition affecting the airways of the lungs, may wonder whether the condition can be cured. According to research, asthma is a long-term condition that is not curable.
However, there are many ways to manage the symptoms, including medications and methods of improving air quality and the body’s stress responses.
What is asthma?
With asthma, a person’s airways are chronically inflamed. These important passageways, through which the lungs inhale and exhale air, need to be clear. If inflammation causes them to become swollen, it can become difficult to breathe.
The symptoms of asthma are:
- difficulty breathing
- tightness in the chest
- wheezing
- coughing
The causes of asthma are varied, and not always entirely known. Asthma is most commonly the result of the immune system reacting to something in the lungs. Allergens such as dust mites, mold spores, certain foods, and pollen can spark this reaction. Lung irritants such as smoke and pollution are also triggers.
The immune system reacts to allergens and irritants with inflammation as a way to try to protect the body. However, this results in swelling and narrowing of the airways and increased mucus production, which can make it hard to breathe.
An asthma attack happens when these symptoms flare up. This usually starts with coughing and heaviness in the chest, followed by wheezing and lightheadedness. A severe asthma attack, or one that is not responding to at-home treatment, may require emergency care.
At the hospital, medical professionals will give you medication through a nebulizer or intravenously (through a vein) in your arm that can help you breathe. In very severe cases, your breathing may be supported with a ventilator.
Can it be cured?
Asthma is a very common condition, affecting about 1 in 13 people in the United States alone. Asthma is more common in children, whose immune systems are sensitive and still developing.
It’s predicted that climate change will make asthma more common in the future due to decreased air quality from carbon pollution, longer pollen seasons, and more frequent exposure to wildfire smoke.
Due to the commonness of this condition, there has been much research into how to improve the disease and patient outcomes.
Though there is no “cure” for asthma, researchers are looking into ways to manage the condition better or increase periods of remission, where there may be no symptoms at all. It isn’t the same thing as a cure, but it is a step forward in the management of the condition.
One 2022 medical review estimates that remission in the adult asthma population varies between 2% and 52%. Some common factors associated with the possibility of remission include:
- mild asthma
- better overall lung function
- better asthma control
- younger age
- early-onset asthma
- shorter duration of asthma
- milder bronchial hyper-responsiveness
- quitting smoking
Therefore, children and young adults, as well as those with milder forms of asthma, may have a more likely chance of remission. This is why diagnosing asthma in the early stages can help to stabilize the condition and treat symptoms with a goal of long-term remission.
In addition, obesity is highly linked to asthma, especially more severe asthma. So, this is a potentially reversible cause, and weight loss may help to control asthma symptoms, possibly leading to remission.
Treatments
There is a host of both medical and natural treatments that can help you manage the condition.
A healthcare professional can work with you to create what’s called an asthma action plan, which can help determine your individual triggers for an asthma attack, so they can be avoided or treated.
Medical treatments for asthma can include both quick-acting and long-term drugs. For example, during an attack, short-acting beta 2-agonists (SABAs) can be used to open the airways and reduce swelling. Examples of these include albuterol and levalbuterol. These are generally taken by breathing them in via an inhaler.
Long-acting beta 2-agonists (LABAs) can also be used. These include salmeterol and formoterol and are also inhaled. They last longer but also take longer to work than SABAs, so they shouldn’t be used during an attack.
There is a risk of asthma symptoms worsening with LABAs, but this risk disappears if they are taken in combination with inhaled corticosteroids, such as fluticasone and salmeterol or budesonide and formoterol.
If these medications don’t work, another line of defense against ongoing asthma flare-ups is bronchial thermoplasty. With this therapy, the lungs are carefully monitored, and heat is applied to the muscles along the airways.
There are also natural treatments that can help keep the condition at bay, including diet and exercise.
Antioxidants like beta-carotene and vitamins C and E can help reduce inflammation. Garlic and probiotics found in kefir, kimchi, and yogurt are also excellent anti-inflammatories to introduce into the diet.
Yoga has multiple benefits to improve asthma symptoms naturally. As a breathing exercise, yoga can help to support the lungs. It’s also a gentle way to maintain a healthy weight, which is an important aspect of asthma mitigation.
It has also been noted by some people that stress is a trigger for asthma attacks, and yoga is commonly used as a stress-relieving practice.
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