Asthma: a chronic but controllable disease

Asthma is an inflammation of the airways, which decreases the flow of air into and out of the lungs. In addition, as explained by Dr Ebymar Arismendi, pulomonologist in charge of the Severe Asthma of the Pneumology and Respiratory Allergy Service at the Clínic Barcelona hospital, "It is a chronic disease and, therefore, incurable, but it can be managed after proper diagnosis with the help of specialists."

Adriana, now 31 years old, was a healthy person until she developed asthma at the age of 22. She suddenly began to feel unwell and started to have frequent asthma attacks. "My normal life suddenly stopped, when I had to enter hospital so often. Also, my body became dependent on cortisone, which is a very strong drug."

However, in recent years, new treatments have been developed, such as biologic drugs, for severe asthma cases. These are monoclonal antibodies directed against certain proteins involved in the inflammation process of asthma and are normally administered subcutaneously.

Currently, the following new therapies are available:

Omalizumab: This works by blocking immunoglobulin E, a protein involved in allergic inflammation. It is indicated in patients with severe allergic asthma.

Mepolizumab: This works by blocking interleukin 5, which is involved in the inflammatory pathways of asthma. It is indicated for patients with severe asthma with so-called eosinophilic inflammation.

Bronchial thermoplasty: This is an endoscopic procedure, carried out using flexible fibreoptic bronchoscopy, which consists of applying controlled heat to the walls of the airways to reduce the thickness of the bronchial smooth muscle and reduce bronchial hyperreactivity. It is indicated only in highly selected cases of severe asthma which cannot be controlled with conventional treatment.

Five years ago, Adriana began this type of treatment - which was then experimental - at the Clínic, and is now satisfied with the result. "Even though I have to continue going to the hospital once a month to keep it under control, I can now lead a normal life," she commented; before adding, "Today, I appreciate how I feel; but it is true that this is a disease that will stay with me for the rest of my life."

In addition to these new therapies and conventional pharmacological treatments, there are non-pharmacological treatments that help improve symptoms, maintain normal lung function and allow for a good quality of life. Not smoking and avoiding environmental contamination, doing physical exercise and considering flu and pneumonia vaccination are some of the recommendations for asthma patients; while also avoiding contact with allergens, such as dust mites, pollen, animals and fungi.

So, although asthma is considered a chronic and incurable disease, there are many different ways to control it, so that the patient can lead as normal a life as possible.