A Groundbreaking, Modern Asthma Treatment
Over 22 million Americans live with asthma every day. It severely impacts quality of life.
Even more frightening is that nine people die from asthma each day.
Though there are drugs that help reduce symptoms, some people with severe asthma still have trouble keeping it under control.
But now there's hope. A recent breakthrough called the Alair™ bronchial thermoplasty (BT) system aims to help even the most severe asthma.
What is Bronchial Thermoplasty (BT)?
BT isn’t another drug. It’s an FDA-approved treatment that provides asthma control 365 days a year.
The outpatient treatment uses a small catheter to transfer controlled thermal energy to the airways of the lungs. The thermal energy is about the temperature of a warm cup of coffee.
You'll have 3 sessions of BT about 3 weeks apart — each time focusing on a different part of the lung.
BT reduces the amount of excess airway smooth muscle, which decreases the airway's ability to “clamp down” during an asthma attack.
The Pros and Cons of BT
BT is a non-drug treatment that:
- Decreases frequent severe asthma attacks.
- Cuts down on ER visits and hospital admissions.
- Reduces time lost from school, work, or other daily activities.
Overall, BT improves lives. Many people say they've been able to lower the dose of — or even stop taking — their current medications after BT treatment.
The cons?
Some people have a slight worsening of their asthma symptoms a day or two after treatment. You can manage your symptoms with your regular medication.
A Treatment with National Acclaim, Offered Locally
UPMC Jameson is the only hospital in the region offering this cutting-edge asthma treatment. Our skilled interventional pulmonologists have expert BT training.
Visit Boston Scientific to learn more about how BT is changing the lives of people with asthma.