Statins May Help People with Asthma Breathe Easier
Statins May Help People with Asthma Breathe Easier
Surprising research out of New York’s Beth Israel Medical Center
shows that people with asthma who take a cholesterol lowering “statin
type” medication may see their lung function improve. Scientists
compared the capacity of the lungs to breathe in and out as well as
“rescue” inhaler use just before and two months after starting statin
therapy. In this short time period, individuals evaluated were able to
breathe more air than they could before starting a statin medicine. Also,
study participants did not have to use their rescue inhalers as much,
indicating they had fewer “asthma attacks”. The statins used in this
study were simvastatin (Zocor) and atorvastatin (Lipitor).
According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, over 22
million Americans are living with asthma. Asthma causes inflammation
in the lining of the lungs that narrows the airways making it harder to
breathe. When asthma symptoms flare up, people experience chest tightness,
breathlessness, wheezing, and coughing, especially during the
night.