Asthma is a chronic lung disease in which the airways are inflamed and prone to narrowing. Symptoms can include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. For decades, management typically involved two inhalers: a daily inhaled corticosteroid to prevent symptoms and a separate “rescue” inhaler containing albuterol, a medication that quickly relaxes airway muscles during flareups.
Today, many experts recommend a single inhaler that combines both prevention and fast relief. Despite strong evidence supporting this approach, it is not yet widely used, says Sandra Zaeh, MD, MS, a Yale Medicine pulmonologist who specializes in asthma.
“There’s often a disconnect between the scientific evidence that we have and the practice that we do,” Dr. Zaeh says. “There are various barriers that come up in the actual implementation of guidelines. For example, physicians may not be aware of updated guidelines, there may be insurance hurdles, or patients may prefer their old way of managing their asthma.”
Dr. Zaeh and fellow Yale Medicine pulmonologist and asthma specialist Lauren Cohn, MD, encourage people with asthma—especially those whose symptoms are not well controlled under current treatment—to talk to their provider about new treatment approaches.
“Some patients may not hear about these therapies unless they ask,” Dr. Cohn says. “For people who aren’t on a daily inhaled corticosteroid for their asthma, we encourage them to talk to their providers about these options.”
