Asthma is a long-term condition that reduces the amount of air flowing in and out of the lungs. Whether your symptoms are mild, difficult-to-control or severe, it is important to be in control of your asthma. The information in this booklet is designed to help you and your family better understand the condition, what triggers it and how to treat it. It includes clear instructions for good inhaler technique and emphasizes the importance of having an Asthma Action Plan in place so that you know: • when and how often to take your treatment • how to tell if your symptoms are getting worse • what to do when your symptoms get worse. With simple clear illustrations, explanation of medical terms and space to write down the questions you want to ask your doctor or nurse, this resource will help you take control of your asthma. Contents: • What is asthma? • What causes asthma? • What are the symptoms of asthma? • What are the tests for asthma? • What medications are used to treat asthma? • Inhalers and spacers • Your Asthma Action Plan • How do I prevent an asthma attack? • How do I manage an asthma attack? • Difficult-to-control asthma • Severe asthma • Treatment of severe asthma • Exercise-induced asthma • Occupational asthma • Asthma in older people • Asthma in pregnancy • Asthma in children

Allergic rhinitis, rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma are some of the most common presenting problems in clinical practice. While standard pharmacotherapy can control the symptoms of these respiratory allergies in most cases, accurate and specific diagnosis enables the implementation of allergen avoidance and allergen-specific immunotherapy. 'Fast Facts: Respiratory Allergies' provides: • the basic principles of allergy and its role in these common respiratory conditions • a better understanding of the distribution and seasonality of aeroallergens • the tools to obtain a comprehensive respiratory allergy history • an overview of diagnostic tests and the latest treatment options. This handy, fast-reference resource is ideal for all primary care providers, general internal medicine doctors and allied health professionals looking to reduce their patients’ medication requirements and treatment side effects and ultimately improve their quality of life. Table of Contents: • Epidemiology, etiology and pathophysiology • Aeroallergens • Diagnosis • Management • Delivery of medication • Future directions

Severe asthma is a form of asthma that responds poorly to currently available medication, and its patients represent those with greatest unmet needs. In the last 10 years, substantial progress has been made in terms of understanding some of the mechanisms that drive severe asthma; there have also been concomitant advances in the recognition of specific molecular phenotypes. This ERS Monograph covers all aspects of severe asthma – epidemiology, diagnosis, mechanisms, treatment and management – but has a particular focus on recent understanding of mechanistic heterogeneity based on an analytic approach using various ‘omics platforms applied to clinically well-defined asthma cohorts. How these advances have led to improved management targets is also emphasised. This book brings together the clinical and scientific expertise of those from around the world who are collaborating to solve the problem of severe asthma.

On February 5, 2015, the Institute of Medicine Roundtable on Population Health Improvement hosted a workshop to explore the relationship between public health and health care, including opportunities, challenges, and practical lessons. The workshop was convened in partnership with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)-Supported Primary Care and Public Health Collaborative. Organized in response to the 2012 IOM report Primary Care and Public Health: Exploring Integration to Improve Population Health, this workshop focused on current issues at the interface of public health and health care, including opportunities presented by and lessons learned from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services State Innovation Models program. The workshop featured presentations on several dimensions of the public health-health care relationship. Collaboration Between Health Care and Public Health summarizes the presentations and discussion of the event.

Personalized medicine is a rapidly emerging area in health care, and asthma management lends itself particularly well to this new development. This practical resource by Dr. Stanley J. Szefler helps you navigate the many asthma medication options available to your patients, as well as providing insights into those which may be introduced within the next several years. - Features a wealth of information on available asthma medications, including new immunomodulators, new responses to treatment, and new treatment strategies at all levels of asthma care. - Prepares you to meet your patients' needs regarding asthma exacerbation prevention and asthma prevention. - Consolidates today's available information and guidance in this timely area into one convenient resource.

This unique new text delivers practical guidelines on diagnosing and treating patients with asthma. Drs. Castro and Kraft are extensively involved in asthma research and improved patient care, and their comprehensive coverage of key challenges in diagnosing and treating asthma makes this a must have resource. The organized full-color format ensures readability, and helps you find information quickly and easily. Offers up-to-date protocols and management guidelines to help you provide the best care for your patients. Presents chapters on special situations and special populations to help you overcome clinical challenges such as the difficult-to-control or pregnant asthma patient. Provides specialized sections on asthma education to give guidance on leading your patients to better self management by improving their adherence to treatment guidelines. Highlights material found on the Asthma Educator Certification exam in special “education boxes. Offers expert guidance on translating the new NIH EPR-3 Asthma Guidelines to hands-on patient care. Organized in a consistent chapter format that provides concise, logical coverage of essential information for easy reference. Contains special boxes that highlight clinical pearls, controversial issues, and patient education information. Uses a full-color format that makes it easy to find information quickly.