Many people associate asthma symptoms and attacks with outside allergens such as pollen, changes in the weather or even air pollution.² But for many people, an important contributor to uncontrolled, persistent asthma symptoms may be inside their bodies: type 2 inflammation.¹

"Inflammation is an important process in the body to fight off infections, but there can sometimes be too much of a good thing," says Dr. Lawrence Sher, Medical Director at Palos Verdes Medical Group and a physician at Peninsula Research Associates. "Excessive type 2 inflammation, in particular, is an overactive immune response that can contribute to the symptoms of asthma.”¹

The excessive type 2 inflammation, an overactive immune system response, can also mean that patients may have one or more type 2 inflammatory diseases of varying levels of severity.¹

Looking Inside: Type 2 Inflammation and Asthma

While some of the underlying causes of asthma remain a mystery, doctors have a better understanding today about how type 2 inflammation might be affecting asthma symptoms in many of their patients.^1,3,4

Type 2 inflammation – and specifically the inflammatory pathway – is at the root of many of the changes that occur inside the lungs of someone with moderate-to-severe asthma, including increased mucus production and airway obstruction, and hyper-responsiveness to allergens.⁵

As a result, people can live with persistent asthma symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.^6,7 Although some patients may have learned to live with these symptoms, they may not realize that they actually have uncontrolled asthma, according to Dr. Sher.

"Type 2 inflammation not only can contribute to persistent asthma symptoms, but if the symptoms are left untreated, can also put people at risk to life-threatening asthma attacks,"^4,6,7 Dr. Sher says. "Those severe attacks – or exacerbations – are more likely to bring people to the emergency room or to the hospital."^4,6,7

Talking to Your Doctor about a Personalized Treatment Plan

Asthma has different contributing factors – some outside and some inside the body – and there is no "one-size-fits-all" treatment.⁸ For some patients living with asthma, the current standard of care therapies may not adequately address their symptoms.^6,7

Researchers are continuing to explore the role of type 2 inflammation in moderate-to-severe asthma. Recent studies have found that inhibiting sources of type 2 inflammation may help improve symptoms of asthma, which could lead to lower rates of asthma attacks and hospitalization.^1,8

“For those who are experiencing persistent asthma symptoms—a potential sign of uncontrolled asthma, talk to your doctor about treatments that may help better control the underlying cause of their disease," Dr. Sher says. "Every treatment has benefits and risks, so patients should discuss the options with their doctors who can help make recommendations."