Asthma and Aspirin Don"t Always Mix Well

There are many types of asthma such as exercise-induced, cough-variant, occupational, allergic, and nocturnal. Different things may cause asthma attacks depending on the type of asthma. So those with asthma have to be aware of the types of incidents that cause their asthma to act up or stimulate an asthma attack. It may something as simple as an over the counter drug that the doctor prescribes to help your health that lead into an asthma attack. Who knew aspirin, an anti-inflammatory, could lead to a response that causes inflammation? 

In Pathogenesis and Aspirin-Intolerant Asthma,  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16137190, the article studies the effect on taking aspirin when intolerant to aspirin. There are about 2-23% of adults and sometimes children whose asthma is worsened when taking aspirin and NSAIDS. Bronchoconstriction is rather rapid occurring within three hours of oral administration of aspirin. The asthma attack from aspirin is believed to be from inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase which takes place with overproduction of cysteinyl leukotrienes (cys-LTs). Due to the overproduction of cysteinyl leukotrienes, leukotriene modifiers are used in order to control aspirin induced asthma in the long-term. 

So while taking asthma may beneficial for some that need to reduce coagulation, it can be harmful for those that have asthma. It would be beneficial to investigate exactly how aspirin induced asthma’s manner of development compares to other types of asthma. From this article is it interesting to read that patients with aspirin induced asthma are able to take aspirin by taking measures such as therapy or using selective cyclo-oxygenase 2 inhibitors.