title: An osteopathic approach to asthma.
abstract: Asthma has become a serious challenge to clinical medicine today, with an increase in incidence, morbidity, and mortality over the past two decades. Asthma continues to be a problem despite increased knowledge of the pathophysiology of asthma coupled with the development of a variety of new and innovative medications that can be used to treat asthma. Five areas involving asthma management are reviewed and involve a failure to do the following: (1) identify disease instability and progression; (2) adopt an optimal pharmacologic treatment plan; (3) identify and help the patient avoid environmental triggers; (4) evaluate and treat certain disruptive psychodynamic issues; and (5) use essential non-pharmacologic modes of therapy such as osteopathic manipulation, nutritional considerations, physical training, and controlled breathing techniques that may help to favorably modify the asthma disease process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine/Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-4950, USA.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Rowane
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Rowane
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008349:Manipulation, Orthopedic / Q000379:methods*; D010021:Osteopathic Medicine / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents