Asthma Triggers

Endotypes and phenotypes of asthma

AERD – Aspirin Exacerbated Respirtoratory Disease
CRSwNP -Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps

Key points

  • Asthma has been increasingly recognized as being a heterogeneous disease with multiple distinct mechanisms and pathophysiologies.
  • Evidence continues to build regarding the existence of different phenotypes based on environmental exposures, severity, age, atopy and other factors that produce a similar set of symptoms known collectively as asthma.
  • This led to a movement from a “one size fits all symptom-based methodology to a more patient-centred individualized approach to asthma treatment targeting the underlying disease process.
  • Asthma can be triggered by most of the same things that trigger allergies (dust mites, mould, animal dander, cockroaches, etc). A key step in controlling asthma is to identify which of these triggers make your asthma worse
  • There is a subjective and objective assessment of asthma severity
  • Always asses subjective score by Asthma control test (ACT)
  • Peak flow meter monitoring is must for objective assesment. Checking your peak flow is one of the best ways to empower yourself and gain control over your asthma.
  • Ask for a written action plan that explains how to take your medicines and control your asthma.
  • Mild asthmatics should receive inhalation steroids to prevent attacks
  • Some biologics have been found to improve lung function in patients with severe asthma. Currently there are five approved biologics for asthma – omalizumab, mepolizumab, reslizumab, benralizumab, and dupilumab