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What's New
PubMed (Open Access Guidelines) · December 1, 2026
Researchers found that allergen immunotherapy — a treatment that gradually exposes the immune system to small amounts of a trigger like dust mites or grass pollen to reduce sensitivity — helped people with allergic asthma breathe better and rely less on medication. Shots (given under the skin) appeared to work better than drops or tablets placed under the tongue, and the treatment seemed to help both children and adults fairly equally. However, the shot-based approach did cause more whole-body reactions, like hives or swelling, so that's something patients would want to discuss with their doctor. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 15, 2026
Researchers found that an 8-week online talk therapy program — where a therapist helps people recognize and rethink fearful, worst-case thinking about their asthma — significantly reduced anxiety and worry about asthma compared to standard care and education alone. People in the therapy group also reported better asthma control, less avoidance of everyday activities, and a higher quality of life, and those improvements were still holding strong six months later. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Watch Out For
FDA MedWatch · July 14, 2026
Be aware that certain Volera breathing devices (made by Baxter) may have a problem where air and medication leak out during use, which could mean patients aren't getting enough oxygen or their full dose of inhaled medication. People using this device should watch for any signs that their breathing treatment doesn't seem to be working as well as usual, or if they feel short of breath or unwell during or after a session. Anyone with concerns about their device or how they're feeling during treatment should reach out to their doctor or care team right away.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient's Volara positive pressure breathing device has been checked for air leaks that could reduce how much oxygen the patient is getting during treatment.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that tracking how forcefully asthma patients can blow air out of their lungs — a common emergency room tool called peak flow measurement — didn't actually lead to better outcomes compared to doctors simply observing symptoms. In this study, patients whose doctors used peak flow readings and those whose doctors relied on symptoms alone had nearly identical results: about 72% of both groups felt better within 2.5 hours, and similar numbers ended up admitted to the hospital. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that young children with asthma who were given vitamin D supplements showed a greater drop in two markers of inflammation in their blood — a protein called CRP and a type of white blood cell called neutrophils — compared to children who received a placebo. Inflammation plays a big role in asthma, so reducing it could potentially mean fewer or less severe symptoms for young children whose asthma tends to flare up with viral illnesses like colds. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that more than one in three workers with occupational asthma — asthma triggered or made worse by substances at their job — ended up unemployed, on long-term sick leave, or unable to work. The findings also suggest that people who were exposed to workplace triggers for longer before their asthma was identified, or who had weaker lung function, were more likely to face these work-related setbacks, which hints that catching and addressing occupational asthma earlier might make a real difference in people's ability to stay employed. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that a common type of asthma medication — drugs called leukotriene receptor antagonists, which include montelukast (Singulair) — may lower the overall risk of developing cancer in people with asthma, based on data from over 280,000 individuals. The idea is that these medications calm certain kinds of inflammation in the body, and that same inflammation is thought to play a role in how some cancers develop. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that two types of breathing support devices — one that delivers a steady stream of warm, humidified air through the nose (called high-flow nasal cannula) and one that gently pushes air into the lungs using a mask (called BiPAP) — were both effective at helping children during a serious asthma attack. Neither approach led to shorter hospital stays overall, but BiPAP appeared better at getting oxygen into the blood in some measurements, which could matter for children who are struggling more to breathe. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that when children and teenagers with obesity and asthma lost weight through weight management programs, their lung function improved and they had better control of their asthma symptoms — meaning fewer flare-ups and a better quality of life. This matters because it suggests that managing weight could be an important part of caring for young people dealing with both obesity and asthma. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that sexual dysfunction — meaning problems with sexual desire or physical sexual response — is surprisingly common in people with asthma, affecting more than half of those studied (about 54%). Women with asthma were especially affected, with roughly 7 in 10 reporting some form of sexual difficulty, compared to about 3 in 10 men. This matters because sexual health is an important part of overall well-being, yet it's rarely discussed in the context of asthma care. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Guidelines
PubMed · July 1, 2026
According to the Spanish Asthma Guideline (GEMA) 5.5, the goal of asthma treatment has shifted from simply keeping symptoms under control to aiming for full clinical remission — meaning people feel well and their asthma causes as little disruption to daily life as possible. The guidelines also recommend tailoring treatment more closely to each person's specific type of asthma, including the use of advanced biologic therapies (specialized medicines that target the immune system) for certain patients whose asthma is driven by specific types of inflammation. People with asthma may want to talk with their doctor about whether these updated approaches apply to their care.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the goal for the patient's asthma treatment should be complete remission rather than just controlling symptoms, and whether that changes how the patient's current treatment plan should work.
What's New
PubMed · July 1, 2026
Researchers found that children with asthma who are overweight or obese may not respond to some common asthma medications the same way that normal-weight children do — for example, certain inhaled steroids appeared to work less well in heavier children, while other types of asthma medicines seemed to work just as well or even better for them. This matters because it suggests that a child's weight might play a role in how well their asthma treatment works, which could be important for families and doctors to keep in mind when reviewing a child's care plan. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 17, 2026
Researchers found that a common asthma rescue inhaler (salbutamol, often known as albuterol) works just as well when made with a new, more environmentally friendly gas inside the canister — one that has about 90% less impact on climate change than the gas currently used. The inhaler with the new propellant was absorbed by the body in a similar way and opened the airways just as effectively, and side effects were mild and comparable between the two versions. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 16, 2026
Researchers found that biologic medications — a newer class of injectable drugs that target specific parts of the immune system to reduce severe asthma attacks — led to dramatically fewer asthma flare-ups, hospital visits, and emergency room trips for people with severe asthma, with some studies showing flare-ups dropping by nearly half to as much as 86%. Many patients were also able to reduce or stop taking oral steroids, which is meaningful because long-term steroid use can cause serious side effects like bone loss and weight gain. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
JAMA · June 16, 2026
Researchers found that not all people with asthma in the United States are equally likely to use their inhalers, and factors like income, insurance coverage, and access to healthcare may play a big role in who gets the treatment they need. This matters because inhalers are one of the most important tools for keeping asthma under control, and gaps in who can access or afford them could mean some people are living with more symptoms or facing greater health risks than others. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Guidelines
PubMed (Guideline Reviews) · June 13, 2026
According to GINA (Global Initiative for Asthma) and NAEPP (National Asthma Education and Prevention Program) guidelines, people with asthma should use a rescue inhaler that combines an inhaled corticosteroid — a medication that reduces airway inflammation — with formoterol, a fast-acting bronchodilator that helps open the airways, rather than the traditional short-acting rescue inhaler alone. This matters because schools face real hurdles putting this into practice, including outdated asthma action plans and gaps in training for school nurses and parents on how to use and dose these newer inhalers correctly. The guidelines point to updating those action plans and improving education for everyone involved as key steps to helping students with asthma get the right care during the school day.
What's New
PubMed · June 12, 2026
Researchers found that having a pharmacist check in with patients remotely — by phone, video, or digital messages — may help people with conditions like type 2 diabetes stick to their medications and manage their health better than standard care alone. This matters because people with type 2 diabetes often need to take several medications consistently, and missing doses can make blood sugar control harder to maintain. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Watch Out For
FDA MedWatch · June 11, 2026
Be aware that certain Volara breathing therapy devices may have a problem where air and medicine can leak out during use, which means patients might not be getting enough oxygen or the right amount of their inhaled medication. If someone using this device notices it doesn't seem to be working as expected, feels short of breath, or feels their treatment isn't helping the way it usually does, it's important to let their doctor or care team know right away.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient uses a Volara system for breathing treatments and if so, whether the patient should be checked for any air or medication leaks during nebulizer therapy.
What's New
PubMed · June 5, 2026
Researchers found that people with asthma were about 44% more likely to develop cavities compared to people without asthma, and they also tended to have more decayed, missing, or filled teeth overall. This connection may matter because it suggests that asthma — and possibly the medications or mouth-breathing that often come with it — could affect dental health in ways that aren't always on people's radar. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 3, 2026
Researchers found that children with asthma who practiced daily breathing exercises specifically focused on strengthening the muscles used when breathing out — called expiratory muscle training — saw bigger improvements in lung function, physical endurance, and overall asthma control compared to children who did a standard chest physiotherapy program alone. These exercises were done once a day for 8 weeks, and kids in the training group also showed stronger breathing muscles and better cough strength, which helps clear the airways. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers gave people with hard-to-control asthma a synbiotic — a supplement that combines probiotics (good bacteria) and prebiotics (food that feeds those bacteria) — and found that it appeared to reduce airway inflammation and make it easier for air to flow in and out of the lungs. This is exciting because it suggests that balancing the bacteria in the body might one day play a role in managing asthma symptoms, which affects millions of people worldwide. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that children having severe asthma attacks in the emergency room were much less likely to need a hospital stay when they received their breathing medication through a new device called SOBIstat-F — about 9% were hospitalized compared to 27% with the standard method. Kids using the new device also showed faster breathing improvement and better oxygen levels in their blood (a measure of how well oxygen is getting to the body). This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
A study found that special injectable medications called biologics — which target the immune system's overreaction that drives severe asthma — can significantly cut down on asthma attacks, hospital visits, and the need for steroid pills. Researchers found that doctors can use certain blood tests and breathing tests to help figure out which patients are most likely to benefit from these treatments. The study also noted that cost and access to these medications can be barriers, so it may be worth asking a doctor whether any of these options could be a good fit and whether financial assistance programs are available.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether the patient might be a good candidate for a biologic medication like Xolair or Dupilumab that targets the immune system to control asthma, based on the patient's current asthma severity and test results.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that a new experimental pill called BI 894416, which works by blocking a protein involved in inflammation (called spleen tyrosine kinase), appeared to be safe and well-tolerated in both healthy people and those with mild asthma, with only mild side effects like headache, diarrhea, and nausea reported. The study also found that the drug seemed to affect certain immune cells and airway cells in ways that could potentially help reduce asthma-related inflammation. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that people with asthma who used telemedicine — things like remote monitoring, online education, or a combination of both — had better asthma control and quality of life compared to those receiving only standard in-person care. Tele-monitoring, where patients track and share their symptoms or breathing measurements with their care team from home, showed especially strong results for keeping asthma under control. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that a new injectable medication called SHR-1703, designed for people with a type of asthma driven by an overactive immune response, quickly reduced a key trigger of airway inflammation — specific immune cells called eosinophils (a type of white blood cell that can cause asthma flares) — by more than half within just one day, with the effect lasting over 100 days. The medication appeared to be well-tolerated, meaning most side effects were mild and occurred at similar rates to people who received a placebo (a dummy treatment with no active ingredient). This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that when school nurses led programs specifically designed to help students manage their asthma, children experienced fewer symptoms, used their medications more effectively, and felt better overall in their daily lives. The programs that worked best combined ongoing care, hands-on support from nurses, and teamwork between nurses, families, and doctors. However, it's still unclear whether these programs reduce emergency room visits, hospital stays, or missed school days, so more research is needed to answer those questions. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
What's New
PubMed · June 1, 2026
Researchers found that adults with moderate-to-severe asthma who combined aerobic exercise with breathing techniques were able to walk noticeably farther and reported a better quality of life compared to those who didn't do this type of training. Adding exercises that strengthen the breathing muscles appeared to bring extra benefits on top of that. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
Medications
PubMed · June 1, 2026
A study found that tezepelumab (brand name Tezspire), given as an injection every four weeks, helped adults with severe asthma who depended on daily steroid pills — like prednisone — reduce how much of those pills they needed to take. Researchers were testing whether the medication could act as a 'steroid-sparing' treatment, meaning it might help people control their asthma while relying less on long-term steroid use, which can cause side effects over time. This appears to be a look at tezepelumab as a newer option for a particularly difficult-to-treat group of asthma patients, though the study was ended before all planned participants were enrolled, which may affect how definitive the results are.
Ask your doctor: Ask the doctor whether tezepelumab (Tezspire) might help the patient take less of the oral corticosteroids they currently need for asthma control.
What's New
PubMed · May 29, 2026
Researchers found that children with asthma who took montelukast (a common asthma pill) alongside their inhaled steroid medication showed better breathing and asthma control than those who used the inhaled steroid alone — and the combination also appeared to shift the mix of bacteria living in their nose and gut in ways that may help calm the immune system. The connection seems to involve tiny molecules called short-chain fatty acids, which are produced by gut bacteria and may help reduce airway inflammation, the swelling and irritation inside the airways that makes asthma worse. This is early research and hasn't yet changed treatment guidelines.
For informational purposes only. Not medical advice. Always consult a physician before making any health decisions.