If your symptoms are persistent, your asthma may be severe or may not be as well controlled as you think it is. That’s why it’s important to know about the latest asthma research, which identifies inflammation deep inside the lungs as asthma driven by type 2 inflammation.
See what uncontrolled asthma feels like
It is estimated that severe asthma represents about 5% to 10% of asthma cases. It can be harder to control, disrupting day-to-day lives even when multiple controller medicines are used. People with severe asthma may not realize that their asthma falls into this category.
According to Asthma Canada, “severe” and “uncontrolled” asthma can be recognized as follows:
Patients with severe asthma:
Asthma is considered uncontrolled if a patient experiences one or more of the following signs or symptoms:
of people with self-reported severe asthma indicate that their asthma is controlled
Some people living with severe asthma experience symptoms as part of everyday life, despite the use of multiple medicines. When asthma is uncontrolled, serious asthma attacks requiring emergency hospitalizations can occur.
Asthma can be recognized by symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing.
Your level of asthma control can be assessed based on how often these symptoms:
It is easy for a person to overlook the severity of their asthma, and in some cases, experiencing everyday symptoms can start to feel normal.
say the ability to function normally is very important for their asthma management
The symptoms of severe asthma that are not well controlled can be ever-present and impact the everyday lives of those living with the condition and their loved ones.
Severe asthma can interfere with physical activity and make routine tasks like climbing stairs, doing chores and running errands feel exhausting. In a 2021 survey, 81% of people living with severe asthma said their condition limited physical activities and 67% had to miss work or school because of their symptoms.
In a 2021 survey, 85% of respondents said severe asthma affected the quality of their social interactions. The symptoms of severe asthma can keep people from doing what they love with friends, and misperceptions about the condition can make people feel misunderstood or embarrassed.
Severe asthma can cause people to have lower productivity or miss school and work.
It is common for people with severe asthma to experience anxiety and panic attacks due to the unpredictability of their symptoms. It is estimated that 30% to 50% of asthmatics experience symptoms of depression.
The impact of severe asthma goes beyond the person living with it. It can also affect relationships with parents, partners and friends – as well as trigger stress and anxiety. In a 2021 survey, 80% of respondents reported feeling stressed due to their asthma.
of people with asthma had an open discussion with their healthcare provider about how asthma affects their daily lives
The societal and economic impact of asthma is often under-estimated.
Asthma is associated with direct costs (e.g., hospitalizations, healthcare professional services, medications) and indirect costs (e.g., missed days of work or lower productivity). In Canada, the direct costs of asthma are estimated at $2.1 billion annually, and the indirect costs to the economy are expected to be $4.2 billion annually by 2030.
It is estimated that severe asthma represents about 5% to 10% of asthma cases. It is also estimated that 50% of all annual healthcare costs for asthma come from the most severe asthmatic population. The costs associated with uncontrolled asthma can be more than 2x those of well controlled asthma.
Wheezing, shortness of breath, cough and/or chest tightness are typical symptoms of asthma. There is an increased probability that a patient has asthma if these symptoms are triggered by:
If asthma is holding your child back, know that there may be ways to help them. Scientific research has shown that type 2 inflammation may play a role in some forms of asthma in children.
Is your child’s asthma well controlled?
It may be hard to know how well your child’s asthma is controlled on a day-to-day basis. But there are a few signs that may indicate that better control is needed, including:
If you’ve noticed these signs, your child’s asthma may not be well controlled – and it may be time to talk to your healthcare provider about what steps can be taken.
New research shows that a specific type of inflammation called type 2 inflammation may occur in 85% of children with asthma.
Type 2 inflammation makes your child’s immune system overreact to environmental triggers, like dust and pollen. Keep reading to learn more.
Type 2 inflammation is a particular type of inflammation that can take place deep within your lungs. In two studies, this type of inflammation was found to be present in 50 to 70% of people with asthma. There are often higher levels of type 2 inflammation in the airways of people with severe asthma.
In some cases, asthma is linked to type 2 inflammation. The asthma subtypes driven by type 2 inflammation are called “eosinophilic”, “allergic”, or “mixed” (i.e., a combination of eosinophilic and allergic).
The best way to find out is to ask your healthcare provider. You may already be using inhaled corticosteroids, corticosteroids taken by mouth or given by an injection, and drugs called “bronchodilators” that help open up your airways to manage symptom relief. If you have asthma driven by type 2 inflammation, there are also drugs called “biologics” that may be added to other treatment options to help reduce the number of asthma attacks you experience.
Since all treatment options can cause side effects and may not be suitable for everyone, it is important to have a conversation with your doctor.
If you are living with asthma symptoms and are ready to rethink your management of it – including learning about type 2 inflammation – talk with your healthcare provider.
Be open and honest with your doctor about your asthma and how it makes you feel and impacts your life.
Download the Rethink Your Asthma Magazine Series – 5 magazine-style issues to help you manage your asthma, one step at a time.
There is no such thing as “just” asthma. There are many different types of asthma with different causes, and people with any type of asthma may experience their symptoms to different degrees.
New understanding has identified a particular type of inflammation called type 2 inflammation. Type 2 inflammation occurs deep in the lungs in some asthma patients. In two studies, it was found that 50-70% of participants had asthma driven by type 2 inflammation.
People with severe asthma often have higher levels of type 2 inflammation in their airways. To determine a treatment that is right for you, your doctor may run some tests to see which asthma subtype you are affected by. If you have asthma that’s driven by type 2 inflammation, there are options that can be used in addition to other asthma medications to help block the activity of certain substances involved in the inflammatory process. This can help decrease the number of asthma attacks you experience.
It is important to know that having asthma symptoms as part of your everyday life does not need to represent “normal” life with asthma. If your symptoms keep you from doing the things you want to do, and keep coming back, it may be time to rethink your asthma control.
Your level of asthma control can be assessed based on how often these symptoms:
If you experience any of these conditions, talk to your healthcare provider to see if your asthma is well controlled.
Be honest with yourself and with your healthcare provider about the impact asthma has on your life. Even if you’ve learned to live with your asthma, you should talk to your healthcare provider if you find it difficult to:
Your doctor or healthcare team are there to help you better understand and manage your asthma.
Many people with asthma accept their symptoms as normal and do not expect additional help from their doctor, which can prevent them from getting optimal asthma management. Working with your doctor and maintaining an ongoing dialogue can help you better manage your asthma.
Your healthcare team can keep you up to date about the latest asthma research and can also point you to other resources that can help with your asthma management plan, including online communities, patient support groups, and mental health professionals to help manage the emotional impact of your condition.
Talking to your healthcare provider and asking questions about your asthma is important to achieving better outcomes. Here are some questions that could help you start the conversation:
Type 2 inflammation can be involved in other conditions throughout the body, such as atopic dermatitis, eosinophilic esophagitis, Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD), and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). In fact, about 1 in 2 people with asthma also have CRSwNP. Learn more about CRSwNP >
Although you may sometimes feel like dealing with severe asthma creates a barrier between you and your family, friends or colleagues, it’s important to know that you never have to feel alone. Talk to your healthcare provider about creating a personalized plan.
A good asthma management plan can help you achieve success in managing your symptoms and help you establish positive habits that last a lifetime.
As you know, it is important to take your prescribed medication to stay ahead of your asthma, even on days when you are feeling good. Your asthma plan will help you cover the different ways you can optimize your asthma care and improve your success.
The best asthma management plan is tailored specifically to you. Whether it is a checklist or a worksheet, your Personalized Asthma Action Plan should be action-oriented and include things like:
The more involved you are in creating your asthma plan, the more likely you are to stay on track.
Having an asthma plan also means planning ahead. Your asthma can be unpredictable, and you might feel like avoiding things because of the possibility of a serious attack. The following 3 steps can help you prepare and move ahead with your plans: