Science Says Take Your Asthma Medication

Pharmaceutical companies don't just make up dosing instructions on a whim. A new study highlights the importance of using asthma medication as prescribed because it will help reduce symptoms.

A new study found that 25 percent of severe asthma attacks could be prevented if patients took their medication as prescribed.

Patients need to take at least 75 percent of their prescribed dose for it to be effective in preventing a severe asthma attack. Patients need to be diligent about taking their medicine.

Ask your doctor about your asthma medication and how often you should use it.

Researchers from the Henry Ford Hospital examined 298 asthma patients who used inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) for two years. A 25 percent increase in ICS usage led to a 11 percent decrease in severe asthma attacks, according to Keoki Williams, M.D., MPH, an Internal Medicine physician and associate director of Henry Ford's Center for Health Policy and Health Service Research.

Casual usage of ICS to treat asthma was not enough to prevent asthma attacks, says Dr. Williams. This is especially true for patients whose asthma is not well-managed.

Dr. Williams recommends asthma patients to use their medication as prescribed.

This study was published in the December edition of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.