Three ways asthma treatment is getting connected

We’ve rounded up three technologies that will continue to revolutionize the way in which patients self-manage their asthma. 

We have grown accustomed to smartphones, smartwatches and a variety of other intelligent technology that collects and analyzes all kinds of data to help us understand how we interact with the world around us. Now there are smart healthcare devices, too. But these innovations aren’t mere gimmicks – they’re having a real impact on the way medical conditions can be treated and managed. Take asthma, for example, where smart technologies are helping those with the illness live healthier and more satisfying lives.

We’ve rounded up three technologies that will continue to revolutionize the way in which patients self-manage their asthma.

1. Smart inhalers

Long gone are the days when consumers pressed an inhaler without knowing whether they received an accurate dose of medication. Smart inhalers now include mouthpieces with integrated electronics that count actual drug doses based on drug discharge. Some also remind individuals when they need to take a dose, coach them on how to use their inhaler properly, or even transmit real-time data about inhaler use to their provider. When providers receive this information, they can reach out to patients directly when symptoms worsen.

Digital sensors, which clip directly onto existing inhalers, are also available. These sensors, which determine the frequency and accuracy of inhaler use, sync wirelessly with smart devices via Bluetooth and send information to an app that generates personalized insights and reminders. Some vendors claim these sensors can reduce severe asthma attacks by 60% and ensure up to 50% more symptom-free days.

The benefits of using smart inhalers include better asthma control, improved quality of life and increased awareness of environmental triggers that might otherwise go undetected (such as indoor or outdoor allergens, tobacco smoke, chemical irritants and air pollution). People with the condition also don’t need to remember when they last had an asthma flare-up or how many times they used their inhaler in the past month. When individuals share the data with their providers, they benefit from more targeted treatments and education. One drawback, however, is that smart inhalers don’t communicate symptoms – a critical piece of the puzzle that helps providers manage asthma effectively.

2. Wearables

Researchers at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina have developed wearable wristbands and patches that can help predict and prevent asthma attacks. The wristband monitors motion, heart rate and oxygen in the blood, and correlates this data with environmental factors that can trigger asthma symptoms. The patch includes similar sensors that track respiratory rate, skin impedance and wheezing in the lungs. Both devices transmit data wirelessly to computers where software collects and records the data.

At Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, a research team is developing a wearable graphene-based sensor that could improve the early detection of asthma attacks. “Our vision is to develop a device that someone with asthma or another respiratory disease can wear around their neck or on their wrist and blow into it periodically to predict the onset of an asthma attack or other problems,” Mehdi Javanmard, an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, told Rutgers Today.

3. Mobile applications

Asthma sufferers can download a variety of free or low-cost mobile applications to help manage their symptoms. Some apps provide asthma reduction tips and home remedies, while others help individuals keep logs of their attacks, building a database of triggers, duration, location, symptoms and more. All this information helps raise a patient’s awareness of what triggers – and can help prevent – their attacks.

At the more sophisticated end, Dr Steven Kagen, an allergy and immunology specialist in Appleton, Wisconsin, has developed an app that correlates self-reported symptoms (such as wheezing lungs, itchy eyes, a cough or a runny nose) with various weather elements, allowing consumers to identify the environmental triggers that make them feel worse. Patients can also use the app to predict symptoms based on a four-day future weather forecast and bring in weather data from another geographic area so they can prepare themselves when travelling. The more often consumers complete the test, the more precise the app is at defining triggers. The app also geo-locates the closest board-certified asthma and allergy specialist so users can seek help immediately.

“This information is empowering to patients,” says Dr Kagen, who also believes that once people understand why they feel the way they do, they’re more able to make smart choices and take proactive steps to feel better.