Study Warns Excessive Inhaler Use May Raise Cardiovascular Risks
What Happened
A study involving more than 280,000 asthma and COPD patients found that overuse of short-acting “reliever” inhalers was associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular problems, including heart attack, heart failure and stroke. Researchers found the risk increased as patients used more inhalers per year, with overuse often indicating poorly controlled respiratory disease.
Key Takeaways
Researchers say frequent reliance on reliever inhalers should be treated as a warning sign of uncontrolled asthma or COPD. Patients using three or more inhalers a year may need a treatment review to improve disease control and reduce potential cardiovascular risks.