An estimated 300 million people worldwide suffer from asthma, and about 250,000 deaths are attributed to the disease. In the US alone 34.1 million Americans have been diagnosed with the illness, an inflammatory disorder of the airways, which causes attacks of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing.
The figure is rising as environmental and workplace pollutants increase. By 2025, it is estimated that the number of people with asthma in the US will grow to 100 million.
This year World Asthma Day falls on May 3, and the theme of this year’s event is ‘You can control your asthma’. Organizers, the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), also plan to launch the next phase of a campaign to reduce asthma hospitalizations by 50 percent in five years.
ISRAEL21c takes a look at what Israeli innovators are doing to treat and reduce asthma levels.
Deep Breeze breakthrough lets patients breathe easy
Israel’s Deep Breeze pioneers at-home lung monitoring with the help of wireless telemedicine technology.
‘Thirdhand smoke’: a big health hazard
Israeli scientists are reporting that thirdhand smoke – the invisible remnants of cigarette smoke on carpeting, clothing, furniture and other surfaces – may be even more of a health hazard than previously believed. According to a new study by the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology (IIT), so-called thirdhand smoke increases the risk of respiratory illnesses among people who do not smoke.
Tikun Olam, medical marijuana supplier to Israel’s Ministry of Health, views providing pain relief for cancer sufferers as a mission that will help repair the world.
Salt therapy is like a breath of fresh air
A father’s search to cure his son’s ear infections led to an Israeli salt therapy chain that’s poised to breathe salt into American air, too.
Israeli invention busts air pollution in our homes
Dangerous invisible particles and pollutants may lurk in the indoor air we breathe. A new dust sensor from Israel identifies the culprits and improves our air quality.
FDA approves breakthrough lung imaging system [VIDEO]
Israeli company Deep Breeze has invented a non-invasive radiation free lung imaging system that uses Vibration Response Imaging to build up a real-time picture of the lung.
An inhaler at a fraction of the price
Someday soon, the box of prescription medicine you buy from the drugstore might not contain capsules or pills – instead it may take the form of tiny, credit card-sized inhalers that deliver the medication directly to your lungs.
Targeting early ID of health deterioration
Three of the four founders of Israeli startup EarlySense have children who suffer from asthma. And their initial goal in setting up the company was to find a smart contact-free respiratory monitoring system that could help parents and doctors identify deterioration in their children’s condition and prevent or minimize an attack before it happens.
Hebrew University doctoral student develops approach to eliminating allergies and asthma
Hebrew University doctoral student develops approach to eliminating allergies and asthma Currently, allergy treatment focuses more on treating symptoms than the disease itself. Now, a doctoral student at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem School of Pharmacy has come up with a new approach that gives new hope for treating them.
Israeli pulmonary imaging technology lets you breathe easier
Dr. Igal Kushnir, the founder and CEO of Deep Breeze Medical Diagnosis, directed me towards the clinical data page on the company’s web site. “There,” he said as I opened a link to asthma. “That’s the first ever image of what an asthma attack looks like in the lungs.”
Israeli study finds citrus oils may hold key for treatment of asthma
For the more than 20 million Americans suffering from asthma (including 6.1 million children), a cure may be looking no farther than the lemons in your refrigerator.
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