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“In conjunction with medication treatments, it is important for patients to look for ways to minimize exposure to triggers,” adds Dr. Cromie. “The fi rst step in this process requires identifying individual asthma triggers. Once triggers are recognized, minimized exposure and medication therapy can help patients live virtually symptom free.” During treatment, cases of asthma can go into remission at certain ages and then reappear later in life. This phenomenon leads many people to believe that their condition is cured. The truth remains, however, that asthma cannot be cured and will inevitably reappear again in the future. On the Leading Edge Although controller and rescue medications tend to be the most common forms of treatment for asthma, recent years have seen the development of a new method of treatment. Focusing on preventing the body’s immune response to allergy triggers, new medications can stop a person’s asthma symptoms before they start. “Antibody therapy is truly the leading edge of treatment for patients who suffer from allergy-associated asthma,” adds Dr. Cromie. “It works against the body’s histamines, which are responsible for asthma symptoms. Namely, these antibodies block immunoglobulin E, which binds to allergens and triggers a histamine response.” For more information about asthma or allergies, visit www.aafa.org. s UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCES ALL CASES OF asthma are unique to each patient. These various forms of the condition may appear at different times and even exhibit different symptoms. The most frequently diagnosed cases of asthma are: + Exercise-induced asthma (EIA) — Individuals who suffer from exercise-induced asthma experience symptoms during or after periods of exercise or exertion. EIA is triggered when strain is placed on the lungs during exercise. + Allergic (extrinsic) asthma — The most common type of asthma, allergic asthma, is triggered by reactions to specifi c environmental allergens. Typical triggers include pollen, ragweed, pet dander and cigarette smoke. + Nocturnal asthma — Nocturnal asthma affects patients between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Symptoms typically prevent sleep and are the result of a hormone dip, which interrupts the body’s natural sleep rhythm. + Cough variant asthma — Cough variant asthma exhibits a unique set of symptoms from other types of asthma. Instead of wheezing or tightness in the chest, patients tend to experience a dry or nonproductive cough. Cough variant asthma can be exercise related or caused by a virus. + Occupation asthma — Occupation asthma refers to asthma symptoms that are a direct result of exposure to triggers in the workplace. Typically, animal breeders, hairdressers, nurses and other professionals experience this type of asthma. Symptoms fl are up while sufferers are at work and lessen when they go home.