Technology has not yet found a way to cure asthma, but advances have made it easier for people with the chronic condition to manage it. From apps to sensors to portable devices, the tech market has innovative solutions to help you track symptoms, identify triggers, and keep your care team in the loop.
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Some research suggests that tech can help when it comes to improving outcomes. One study that looked at a specific mobile app that offers asthma coaching found that regular use helped improve asthma control and increase FEV1 scores by roughly 7.9 percent after four months, according to a study published in the July–August 2016 issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. (The FEV1 test measures lung function; a lower score signals breathing problems, according to Mayo Clinic.) A recent review of research that’s been done on the topic concludes, however, that to-date studies on asthma apps are promising, but the trials themselves are small, and we need more research to determine if the benefits of these small studies apply to bigger, more diverse groups of people. That review was published in the November 2018 issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
Just remember: “Technology, at this time, can’t replace medication,” says Marilyn Li, MD, a clinical associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Think of apps, trackers, and devices as supplementing medications and other components of your asthma treatment plan, she says — adherence to prescribed treatments should be the number one priority.
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Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about how to integrate technology into your treatment plan.
Here are a few new asthma tools and gadgets to check out.
Propeller Digital Sensor
The Propeller digital sensor attaches to whatever inhaler you currently use (the company makes attachments specifically for most inhaler types); you continue using the inhaler as you normally would. Propeller senses when you use your rescue medication and automatically sends that data to the connected app on your phone. The Propeller sensor then gathers environmental and weather data from your location, and you can go into the app to manually input what triggered your asthma symptoms (for example, indoor allergens like dust or animal dander, and weather factors like cold air). With continued use, the app learns about your flare-ups and medication schedule, and sends you forecasts to alert you to environmental risk factors.
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The app sends monthly reports that include how well your condition is being controlled (such as well-, not well-, or poorly-controlled), your medication adherence, a graph of your rescue medication usage over the previous 30 days, trends in rescue and controller medication usage (including time of day and day of week), trends around your most common triggers and symptoms, and your most recent Asthma Control Test score. You can even share the information with your doctor at your next visit, so you can develop a better treatment plan. According to company findings, Propeller users are consistently able to reduce their rescue inhaler use. The cost of Propeller is sponsored through partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, pharmacy benefit managers, providers, and health systems, so patients don’t have to pay for it themselves. Answer a few questions about your medications online to find out if there’s a sponsor for you.
Learn more at PropellerHealth.com; free if you qualify.
Aluna Spirometer
Aluna is a portable spirometry device that comes with an interactive iPhone game designed for kids age 5 and older. The app can be programmed to send daily reminders to a kid to use it; it generates more accurate analyses the more frequently and consistently it’s used (and there is a “time-out” mode, which makes sure the child doesn't perform a spirometry test too many times in a row and tire out her lungs). Before using the portable spirometer, kids are prompted by the iPhone app to record any medications they’ve used since they last logged on, as well as the severity of their current asthma symptoms. The spirometer works similarly to a peak flow meter in a doctor’s office: The child forcefully exhales into the device, which uploads the child’s FEV1 scores directly to the app. Kids can advance through the companion game by completing spirometry tests and tracking their symptoms.
Parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers can download current or cumulative results from a child’s spirometry test (or sign up for real-time alerts about a child’s test result). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently reviewing the device for clearance.
Learn more at Aluna.io; scheduled to be available in March online only ($99 for the spirometer and $15 per month for the app after a three-month free trial).
KagenAir App
This app is designed to tell you how the weather around you might be affecting your asthma. Every day you answer a few questions about your symptoms and the app gives you information about weather and environmental factors like humidity, wind speed and direction, pollen, grass, weeds, mold, and pollution that may be triggering flare-ups. As the app gets to know you and your asthma symptoms with continued use, it should be able to give you more information about trends in your symptoms, triggers that might be behind them, and how to avoid them in the future. The app also offers a TeleMedicine tool that connects you with nearby medical professionals, as well as a pharmacy locator.
Learn more at KagenAir.com; available free on iOS and Android.
Respiri Wholter
The FDA-cleared Wholter monitor offers a promising solution for those looking to monitor and track nighttime wheezing and coughing (such as parents of children with asthma). The remote-control-size Wholter monitor sits next to your bed and is designed to record symptoms for 8 to 24 hours. It may help doctors and patients design better treatment plans. The company that makes the device, Respiri, is currently working on creating wireless capability and a connected app.
Learn more at Respiri.co; not yet available for sale.
AsthmaMD Peak Flow Meter and Tracking App
This portable peak flow meter (a handheld tool that lets you measure how well your lungs are working) and tracking app were designed to help people with asthma manage and improve symptoms over time. Use the handheld peak flow meter to measure your lung performance (your ability to push air out of your lungs in a single exhale), and then sync your results to the mobile app. The app gives you a digital overview of your results. In addition to tracking lung performance from day to day and over time, you can track other symptoms, triggers, and medications, too. With continued use, the app will gather insights as to how your medications and triggers may be affecting your peak flow results. The information is intended to help you and your doctor determine if your medications are working, whether treatment plans need to be adjusted, and to better predict when you might be at risk for an asthma attack.
Learn more at AsthmaMD.org; $14.75 per meter and free app, available for iOS and Android.