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You do your best to manage severe asthma, often taking multiple therapies to keep asthma attacks at bay.1 Still, life may feel "up in the air" - like your treatments leave your symptoms feeling unpredictable.1,2
If you're currently on treatment for severe asthma but still dealing with symptoms and attacks, it may be time for a conversation with your doctor - one that explores whether your current regimen is addressing a root cause of severe asthma.2,3
Here are five things to know about severe asthma that may help you reduce severe asthma attacks:
1. Your asthma can be unpredictable
Even if you're doing your best to manage asthma, you may still be dealing with symptoms.2,3 Many patients accept ongoing frustration with frequent symptoms as the norm, but it doesn't have to be.4 Continued symptoms and flare-ups could be signs your treatment might not be fully addressing the problem.2,3
2. Chronic inflammation may be a root cause
When it comes to asthma, chronic inflammation in the lungs plays an important role. For 80% of people with severe asthma, the disease is driven by a specific underlying issue called Type 2 inflammation.3,5 Uncontrolled inflammation in your lungs can cause attacks, make your asthma even worse, and can lead to hospitalization or ER visits.1,6 Knowing if you have uncontrolled asthma can help you assess your current treatment and if it's working for you.
3. When to consider a more targeted approach
If you're wondering if a targeted treatment might be an option for you, there are a few questions to ask yourself. If you've had at least two asthma attacks in the past year or have been hospitalized for your asthma, it may be time to talk to your doctor.3
4. Biologic treatments offer a different way to treat asthma
Biologic treatments target certain parts of the immune system to help manage inflammation.1,3 Biologic treatments can be added to an existing regimen for some cases of asthma.1,3
5. Talk to an asthma specialist about your treatment goals
Opening up about challenges isn't always easy, but it's key to meeting your goals and keeping your asthma management on track. There are several types of asthma specialists - pulmonologists, allergists and immunologists - that can help you make informed treatment decisions and explore options you may not have considered.
It may be time to ask your doctor about a different type of asthma control. Learn more at asthma.com.
[1] De Graaff, M. B., et al. "'like a fish on dry land': An explorative qualitative study into severe asthma and the impact of biologicals on patients' everyday life." Journal of Asthma, vol. 59, no. 5, 24 Feb. 2021, pp. 980-988, https://doi.org/10.1080/02770903.2021.1888976.
[2] Busse, William W., et al. "Holy Grail: The journey towards disease modification in asthma." European Respiratory Review, vol. 31, no. 163, 22 Feb. 2022, p. 210183, https://doi.org/10.1183/16000617.0183-2021.
[3] Venkatesan, Priya. "2025 GINA Report for Asthma." The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, vol. 13, no. 8, Aug. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/s2213-2600(25)00242-5.
[4] Bidad, Natalie, et al. "Understanding patients' perceptions of asthma control: A qualitative study." European Respiratory Journal, vol. 51, no. 6, 17 May 2018, p. 1701346, https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.01346-2017.
[5] Heaney, L, et al. "Eosinophilic and noneosinophilic asthma." CHEST, vol. 160, no. 3, Sept. 2021, pp. 814-830, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2021.04.013
[6] Çolak, Yunus, et al. "Type-2 inflammation and lung function decline in chronic airway disease in the general population." Thorax, vol. 79, no. 4, 9 Jan. 2024, pp. 349-358, https://doi.org/10.1136/thorax-2023-220972.
