Jabs like Mounjaro 'could help manage asthma for obese people'
Injections used by those trying to lose weight could potentially alleviate asthma symptoms in obese people, a recent study suggests. The research indicates that these drugs, also known as glucagon-like peptide1 receptor-agonists (GLP1-RAs), should be considered as a potential treatment for obese people suffering from the respiratory condition, who are "often resistant" to steroids.
These injections - originally developed as a treatment for type 2 diabetes - function by imitating the hormone GLP-1, which helps regulate blood sugar and insulin levels. Several variations of the drug are recommended by the NHS to combat obesity, including semaglutide, also known as Wegovy, and tirzepatide, or Mounjaro.
Previous research has suggested that these drugs may significantly reduce the risk of diseases such as dementia and stroke. An international team of experts is currently investigating their potential impact on obese people with asthma, reports Bristol Live.
Professor David Price, chair in primary care respiratory medicine at the University of Aberdeen, stated: "People with obesity and asthma are unique in that they are often resistant to steroid treatments. We know that GLP1s work on inflammatory responses in the airways in a different way to traditionally used steroids."
In the study, published in Advances in Therapy, researchers analysed the records of 10,111 people on GLP1-RAs, and 50,555 people who were not on the drugs. Following a period of observation, the team discovered that those taking the injections lost more weight and had improved control over their asthma.
Researchers have suggested that medical professionals "should pay attention to the relationship between GLP-1 RA and the risk of respiratory diseases". Prof Price stated: "We found compelling evidence that GLP1s, as well as increasing weight loss, also improved asthma symptoms.
"In addition, it is important to note that the benefits to asthma symptoms occurred despite fairly modest weight loss of around 0.9kg over the course of the year. Our findings suggest that GLP1s may have beneficial effects on asthma control for people with obesity and this should be explored further."
Prof Alan Kaplan, chairperson of the Family Physician Airways Group of Canada and the Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, commented: "Our findings suggest that GLP1-RAs have benefits on asthma control in people with obesity, and this information should contribute to the discussions around the decision to use these drugs."
Dr Erika Kennington, head of research and innovation at Asthma and Lung UK, said: "Research has previously shown that people living with obesity who lose weight see improved control of their asthma, so it's encouraging to see this study show this is still the case when the weight loss is driven by drugs, like the new class of weight loss drugs.
"Although exercise can help people lose weight, for some people it can cause anxiety about becoming breathless or having an asthma attack, so people are stuck in a vicious cycle of not being able to lose weight and their asthma worsening. Therefore, where exercise hasn't worked for someone these drugs that support weight loss could offer a promising alternative.
"It's too early to say whether these drugs would be effective for people with asthma more widely. More research is needed to understand how these drugs actually improve asthma control. Funding for lung health research is on life support and urgent action is needed to increase investment."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
I'm a bowel cancer surgeon: This is why young people need to up their fibre intake, now
Almost every person in the UK fails to eat enough fibre—a key factor in rising bowel cancer risk in young people—a concerned surgeon has said today. Under NHS guidance, adults should consume at least 30g of fibre a day. But according to Mr Haney Youssef, a colorectal surgeon at The Harborne Hospital, Birmingham, most adults in the UK are consistently falling well below this target, increasing the risk of the deadly disease. He said: 'Research consistently shows that people who consume adequate fibre have significantly lower rates of colorectal cancer. 'But most adults in the UK are consuming as little as 18-20g of fibre daily—this gap is particularly concerning given the rising rates of bowel cancer in younger people.' According to Bowel Cancer UK, a lack of fibre—the indigestible parts of plants that aid digestion—is behind an alarming 28 per cent of all cases in the UK. The doctor suggests adding fibre-rich foods such as wholegrain oats, fruits and vegetables and nuts and seeds to every meal to boost fibre intake and ward off the disease. He said: 'Think of fibre as nature's internal cleansing system: it helps sweep away waste products while feeding the good bacteria that keep our bowel environment healthy.' Fibre is a type of carbohydrate in plants, but unlike sugar and starch it isn't absorbed by the body. Instead, it keeps the gut healthy and functioning properly. 'Fibre helps maintain regular bowel movements, reducing the time potential toxins spend in contact with the bowel wall. 'This is crucial because prolonged contact with harmful substances can damage the delicate lining of our colon and rectum,' Mr Youssef explained. 'Secondly, when beneficial bacteria in our gut ferment fibre, they produce short-chain fatty acids like butyrate. 'These compounds actually nourish the cells lining our bowel and have anti-inflammatory properties that help prevent the cellular changes that can lead to cancer,' the expert continued. Research published earlier this year also suggested that fibre could help protected against harmful foodborne infection that damages the gut has been blamed for the steep rise in cases. Dr Alasdair Scott, a gut specialist and science director at Selph—a health-testing firm —told the Daily Mail high fibre intake is one of the few ways to counteract harmful in the gut. 'There's not much people can do if the bacteria does contribute to early onset colon cancer,' he says. 'But we do know that a high-fibre diet can protect against the type of mutation that causes tumours to develop According to Mr Youssef, boosting fibre intake can be as simple as adding a nuts and berries to your porridge, providing a third of the daily recommended allowance in just one meal. He added: 'The key is making gradual increases to allow your digestive system to adapt comfortably.' In response to growing concerns that an unpleasant odour accompanying bowel movements could be a red flag warning sign of cancer, Mr Youssef said the majority of unusual bowel smells are not cancer-related. He said: 'A "rotting meat" smell in your stools is unlikely to be caused by cancer. 'The majority of unpleasant bowel odours are caused by infections, dietary changes or food intolerances. 'That said, in cases where bowel cancer is present, cancerous tumours can cause tissue to die off which can produce an unpleasant smell that could be described as resembling rotting flesh,' he added. However the bowel surgeon urged people to contact their GP if they are concerned about persistent changes in bowel habits that do not go away after a few weeks. 'It could be a sign of infection and if there is an underlying issue, catching it early gives the best chance of successful treatment,' he warned. Other common symptoms of the disease include persistent changes in bowel movements such as diarrhoea or constipation, needing or feeling the need to empty your bowels more or less frequently, blood in the stool, abdominal pain, unexplained weight-loss and fatigue. However, bowel cancer can also appear with no symptoms until it has spread, where it becomes harder to treat. Bowel cancer is on the rise in younger adults, defined in cancer terms as those under 50. A recent global study found rates of bowel cancer in under 50 year-olds are rising in 27 of 50 nations. While the disease is known to be linked to obesity, experts have noted the disease is increasingly affecting otherwise fit and healthy patients. Some experts believe the explanation must lie in environmental factors young people have been exposed to more than previous generations. While no 'smoking gun' has been found, there are multiple theories including modern chemicals in diets, microplastics, and pollution. Around 44,000 cases of bowel cancer are diagnosed every year in the UK, with about 130,000 in the US. The disease kills almost 17,000 Britons each year, with the death toll rising to about 50,000 in America. Overall, just over half of bowel cancer patients are expected to be alive 10 years after their diagnosis. Cancer Research UK estimates that more than half—54 per cent—of bowel cancer cases are preventable.
Scotsman
3 hours ago
- Scotsman
Why grim new healthy life expectancy figures must be a wake-up call for ailing Scotland
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The birth of a baby should be a joyful event. However, new statistics showing healthy life expectancy in Scotland has fallen to a near-ten-year low are a reminder about the state of our ailing nation and how the legacy we are bequeathing to our children is becoming increasingly poor. According to the National Records of Scotland, baby girls born between 2021 and 2023 can look forward to 60 years of good health, while the boys can expect 59 years and seven months. Both figures have been falling since 2014-2016. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Total life expectancy in Scotland has also been declining although not as quickly as healthy life expectancy, which means the youngest generation can expect to spend an increasing proportion of their lives in ill health. More Scots need to get into the habit of regular exercise for the sake of themselves, the economy and the country (Picture: Dia Dipasupil) | Getty Images Economy, poverty and NHS all connected There are stark differences between different parts of Scotland. For example, in Perth and Kinross, males are forecast to have 65.4 years of healthy life, compared with just 52.6 in North Ayrshire and 53.2 in North Lanarkshire. One explanation for this is deprivation, which makes getting the economy going, tackling poverty and restoring the NHS to its former greatness even greater priorities for our politicians than they already are. These three issues are interconnected, as poor people have little money to spend and sick people may not be able to work. Treating illnesses and conditions promptly so that people can get off disability benefits and return to work, as many wish to do, is one way to increase productivity and thereby put more money in everyone's pockets. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Clearly, entrenched cultural attitudes towards alcohol, junk food and exercise in Scotland do not help. And while old habits can be difficult to change – even when we know just how bad for us they are – we do need to try and governments need to help. This is what makes the lack of serious action to turn Scotland into a sporting nation so disappointing. It would take leadership, organisation and a degree of funding, but the potential rewards would far outweigh any initial outlay.
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Unregulated Botox cases are ‘incredibly frightening', says GP
At least four people have been admitted to hospital after complications related to cosmetic procedures such as Botox City Council has begun an investigation into reports of people experiencing botulism symptoms, thought to be from unlicensed Botox-like cases were not linked to any beauty or cosmetic salons in the city, but to private practitioners working in their own or client's Shabina Qayyum, the cabinet member for adult health and social care on the authority, said it was "incredibly frightening" to see an "unregulated medication" being administered. The UK Health Security Agency and the NHS were working with the council to stop the practitioners linked to the cases from carrying out further Qayyum, a Labour councillor and GP in the city, said four people had been admitted to hospital in the last week after cosmetic procedures believed to have taken place in back gardens or said some of those affected had been admitted to an intensive care unit for ventilatory support. "The complications around this can be detrimental to someone's life and can put someone's life at risk," she said."Botox paralyses the muscles to achieve a cosmetic look from an aesthetic perspective, but if you're using an unregulated form of Botox, it can have risks that paralyse the airway muscles... that can be very concerning indeed."She added some medical staff were having to deal with "unfamiliar territory" as the substance used was not Qayyum also urged people undergoing cosmetic treatments to go to someone who was medically qualified. 'Scary place' The botulism toxin, used in products such as Botox, can be used to temporarily paralyse the movement of is a medication that can be used to treat conditions such as migraines and muscle spasms or for cosmetic preferences such as reducing the appearance of Black, an aesthetic practitioner in Oundle, Northamptonshire, said the industry could be a "scary place"."We have people training online, learning injection techniques and how to use the botulinum toxin without practicing on live people or understanding the depth of the injection or the anatomy and physiology of the face."Ms Black said there was a huge range in standards of training and urged people to "walk away" if they felt something "just doesn't feel right". Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
