Asthma

Asthma bronchiale · Astma

What it is

Airways inflame and squeeze shut in reversible attacks.

Inhaled steroid with formoterol as both preventer and reliever — fewer attacks than a reliever alone trials support
Montelukast — helps some, and carries a warning for mood and sleep effects mixed evidence
Biologics in severe disease, at a cost of tens of thousands a year trials support
Prednisolone for flares, with the bone and sugar cost of repeated courses trials support
Bronchial thermoplasty — FDA-approved 2010 for severe asthma; fewer attacks in a sham-controlled trial, more hospital stays in the weeks of treatment mixed evidence
Tezepelumab for severe asthma — approved (FDA 2021, EMA 2022) whatever the eosinophil count

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

Vitamin D3 when levels are low — meta-analyses found fewer severe attacks needing steroids in deficient patients, none when levels were normal mixed evidence
Buteyko and other breathing methods — trials show better symptom control and less reliever use, but no better lung function mixed evidence
Magnesium — intravenous magnesium is standard in severe attacks; oral supplements give small, inconsistent benefit early / small studies
Black seed (Nigella sativa) — traditional remedy; small trials report better control early / small studies
Omega-3 fish oil and a diet rich in fruit and vegetables — observational links and small trials early / small studies
Salt caves and halotherapy — popular in Central European spas; not properly tested anecdotal / traditional