dreamstime s 17217546The American Lung Association Asthma Clinical Research Centers (ACRC) is currently recruiting asthma patients for a study examining whether CPAP can also improve asthma control.

The ACRC’s current study, the Effect of Positive Airway Pressure on Reducing Airway Reactivity in Patients with Asthma, is examining whether the use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), which keeps airways open during sleep, makes airways more relaxed and thus improving asthma. With CPAP treatment, clean, humidified air is blown into the lungs in order to prevent airways from collapsing. Thus, the chest and lungs are more expanded, helping patients to breathe better.

“If CPAP is found to be effective, this will introduce an entirely new way to treat asthma without medication,” states Robert Wise, MD, director of the American Lung Association Asthma Clinical Research Centers Network. “If we can reduce the number of inhalers and frequency of inhaled rescue medication with this new treatment, it will not only relieve the burden of asthma but improve their quality of life as well.”

The CPAP clinical trial is currently recruiting non-smokers between the ages of 15 and 60 with a history of asthma for their four month study.