How drugs like Ozempic can help treat asthma — even if you don't have diabetes
Managing asthma often requires a two-pronged approach — long-term medicines to prevent attacks and rescue strategies to stop attacks when they happen. It's important to avoid triggers and monitor breathing.
New research out of the UK suggests that GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Victoza may provide long-term asthma relief — in addition to shrinking waistlines.
Advertisement
4 Asthma sufferers may benefit from GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, a new study finds.
Pixel-Shot – stock.adobe.com
'This study is a good reminder that GLP-1s shouldn't just be labeled as 'weight loss drugs,'' Dr. Michael Snyder, who was not involved in the new study, told The Post.
'They're part of a broader shift in medicine toward treating chronic diseases at the systems level.'
Advertisement
Researchers from the University of Aberdeen and the Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute studied over 10,000 obese, asthmatic patients taking GLP-1 drugs, comparing them to about 50,000 adults who had similar medical histories but were not taking GLP-1s.
The GLP-1 users had fewer asthma attacks and symptoms after a year, though there wasn't much difference between that group and the asthma patients not on GLP-1 drugs.
4 GLP-1s often cause weight loss, which has been shown to reduce the severity of asthma. Other factors may also be at play.
millaf – stock.adobe.com
The researchers attributed this outcome to 'large numbers of missing data' due to disruptions in information collection during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Advertisement
Though the data was limited, the study authors noted that the GLP-1 group shed an average of 7.7 pounds while the other group lost an average of 2 pounds. It's unclear if the GLP-1 participants suffered side effects like nausea or vomiting.
The results were published recently in the journal Advances in Therapy.
This is not the first study to demonstrate that GLP-1 drugs can help asthma sufferers, particularly those with Type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Advertisement
Obesity is a well-known risk factor for asthma. One reason is that fat tissue can produce inflammatory substances that negatively affect the lungs and worsen asthma.
GLP-1 drugs often cause weight loss because they mimic the GLP-1 hormone the body naturally produces after eating. Appetite decreases as users feel fuller for longer. The meds are prescribed to people with obesity and/or Type 2 diabetes.
4 Managing asthma often requires a two-pronged approach — long-term medicines to prevent attacks and rescue strategies to stop attacks when they happen.
Pixel-Shot – stock.adobe.com
Snyder, medical director of the Bariatric Surgery Center at Rose Medical Center in Denver and in-house obesity specialist at FuturHealth, suggests that these drugs could be useful for asthmatics who aren't obese or diabetic.
'These drugs appear to have anti-inflammatory effects, which is key since asthma is, at its core, an inflammatory disease,' Snyder said.
'They may also help calm airway hyperresponsiveness — in other words, making the lungs less reactive to common asthma triggers like allergens or pollution,' he added. 'And of course, the weight loss many patients experience can also improve lung function and reduce asthma severity, so it's likely a combination of these effects working together.'
Snyder said more research is needed to confirm the effects in people who are not obese.
Advertisement
Dr. Thomas Kilkenny, director of the Institute of Sleep Medicine, Pulmonary & Critical Care at Northwell's Staten Island University Hospital, said the participants' better breathing is simply due to the weight loss.
'It has been shown multiple times in the past, and various studies show that weight loss alone improves asthma control,' Kilkenny told MedicalNewsToday.
4 Researchers have long been exploring uses for GLP-1 drugs beyond obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
Fernanda – stock.adobe.com
'This study did not comment on whether the GLP-1 medication had a direct effect on the physiology of asthma control,' he added.
Advertisement
Since the first GLP-1 drug was approved 20 years ago to treat Type 2 diabetes, researchers have suggested that these meds can also relieve knee osteoarthritis pain, calm skin conditions, lower the odds of heart troubles and reduce dementia risk.
'Conditions like asthma, diabetes, sleep apnea, dementia and even cardiovascular disease don't exist in silos; they're deeply interconnected,' Snyder said.
'The fact that GLP-1s may impact all of them suggests we're entering a new era where the focus is not just on symptom management, but on rebalancing the underlying biology driving disease.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
7 hours ago
- New York Post
Acting NASA chief Sean Duffy to announce plans for building nuclear reactor on the moon
It's a power move. The Trump administration aims to accelerate the construction of a nuclear reactor on the moon, Transportation Secretary and acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy wrote in a memo distributed internally on Monday. The space agency has previously explored the possibility of installing an electricity-generating nuclear reactor on the lunar surface capable of powering a sustained human presence, but Duffy intends to fast-track the project and more than double the reactor's power output, according to documents obtained by The Post. 3 Transportation Secretary and acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy announced plans to build a nuclear reactor on the moon. AP Photo/George Walker IV Advertisement 'To properly advance this critical technology to be able to support a future lunar economy, high power energy generation on Mars, and to strengthen our national security in space, it is imperative the agency move quickly,' Duffy wrote in the memo. 'It is about winning the second space race,' a NASA senior official told Politico, which first reported on Duffy's plans. Duffy's directive will instruct NASA to seek out proposals for a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor that would be ready for launch by 2030. Advertisement In 2022, NASA's 'Fission Surface Power Project' awarded design contracts for a 40-kilowatt nuclear reactor, which the agency said is capable of powering 33 households. If another country, such as China or Russia, were to build a reactor on the moon first, it could 'declare a keep-out zone which would significantly inhibit the United States,' Duffy's order noted. The directive calls for NASA to appoint a leader for the reactor project and to get private industry input within 60 days. 3 The planned reactor would be complete by 2030. IndustryAndTravel – Advertisement NASA will look for private spaceflight companies able to get the reactor to the moon by 2030, when China intends to launch a manned moon mission. President Trump named Duffy, 53, the acting head of NASA last month after he withdrew the nomination of billionaire Jared Isaacman, an ally of ex-DOGE chief Elon Musk. Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here! The surprise move came in response to a 'review' of Isaacman's history, Trump said at the time. Advertisement Isaacman has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Democratic candidates and causes as recently as October 2024, when he gave more than $41,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Federal Election Commission records show. 3 A NASA senior official reportedly said the plan is about 'winning the second space race.' Alberto Ghizzi Panizza/ Duffy outlined NASA's ambitious objectives — to circle the moon, land and eventually build a base on the surface — last month in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity. 'We're going to go back to the moon during Donald Trump's presidency,' he told Hannity. 'Next year … start of the year, we are going to go back to the moon. We're not going to land. We're going to go around the moon. And then about a year later, we're going to land back on the moon,' Duffy explained. 'And then after that, we're going to set up a base camp. 'We're going to stay on the moon, and what we learn on the moon is what's going to take us to Mars.' A spokesperson for NASA did not respond to The Post's request for comment.
CNBC
11 hours ago
- CNBC
Hims & Hers stock falls 10% on revenue miss
Shares of Hims & Hers Health fell 9% in extended trading on Monday after the telehealth company reported second-quarter results that missed Wall Street's expectations for revenue. Here's how the company did based on average analysts' estimates compiled by LSEG: Revenue at Hims & Hers increased 73% in the second quarter from $315.6 million during the same period last year, according to a release. Hims & Hers reported a net income of $42.5 million, or 17 cents per share, compared to $13.3 million, or 6 cents per share, during the same period a year earlier. For its third quarter, Hims & Hers said it expected to report revenue between $570 million to $590 million, while analysts were expecting $583 million. The company said its adjusted EBITDA for the quarter will be between the range of $60 million to $70 million. Analysts polled by StreetAccount were expecting $77.1 million. Hims & Hers has faced controversy in recent months over its continued sale of compounded GLP-1s, which are cheaper, unapproved versions of the blockbuster diabetes and weight loss drugs. Compounded drugs can be mass produced when brand-name treatments are in shortage, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced in February that ongoing supply issues had been resolved. Some telehealth companies, including Hims & Hers, have continued to offer the compounded medications. It's legal for patients to access personalized doses of the knockoffs in unique cases, like if they are allergic to an ingredient in a branded product, for instance. Hims & Hers has said consumers may still be able to access personalized doses through its site if clinically applicable. In June, Hims & Hers shares tumbled more than 30% after a short-lived collaboration with Novo Nordisk fell apart. The drugmaker said Hims & Hers "failed to adhere to the law which prohibits mass sales of compounded drugs" under the "false guise" of personalization. Hims & Hers reported adjusted EBITDA of $82 million for its second quarter, up from $39.3 million last year and above the $73 million expected by StreetAccount. Hims & Hers will host its quarterly call with investors at 5 p.m. ET.
New York Post
14 hours ago
- New York Post
This rare collagen is called a ‘complete beauty booster' and it's only $16 on Amazon
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. This is not a drill. Grass-fed collagen is marked down to just $16 on Amazon, and reviewers swear they're seeing real results. Collagen comes in different forms, and each serves a unique purpose. But, unlike single-source formulas, VEV Collagen Powder delivers a potent blend of types I, II, III, V, and X for full-body support. By combining several forms, users can enjoy a wider range of potential benefits — from more radiant skin to stronger hair and nails, improved joint flexibility, and even smoother digestion. Advertisement 'My skin feels more hydrated and firmer, and my nails are growing stronger,' one reviewer gleamed. 'I love that it includes Types I, II, III, V, and X collagen, plus hyaluronic acid, biotin, and vitamin C — it's like a complete beauty booster in one scoop.' VEV peptides are also stamped with labels experts recommend looking for in all supplements: GMP-certified, GMO-free, and third-party tested. The formula is hydrolyzed, making it easier for the body to break down and absorb. Shoppers say it mixes well and the taste is tolerable, too. If you're looking to add affordable, grass-fed collagen to your routine, this powerhouse formula could be just what you've been missing. Amazon Not your average collagen supplement, VEV Multi Collagen Peptides Powder features five different kinds of collagen sourced from grass-fed animals (completely free of fillers and artificial colors). Blended with vitamins, keratin, and biotin, it's designed to support everything from smoother skin to stronger joints, healthier hair, and gut balance. Reviewers say it dissolves easily in warm drinks, is generally gentle on the stomach, and delivers real results with consistent use. This article was written by Miska Salemann, New York Post Commerce Writer/Reporter. As a health-forward member of Gen Z, Miska seeks out experts to weigh in on the benefits, safety and designs of both trending and tried-and-true fitness equipment, workout clothing, dietary supplements and more. Taking matters into her own hands, Miska intrepidly tests wellness products, ranging from Bryan Johnson's Blueprint Longevity Mix to home gym elliptical machines to Jennifer Aniston's favorite workout platform – often with her adorable one-year old daughter by her side. Before joining The Post, Miska covered lifestyle and consumer topics for the U.S. Sun and The Cannon Beach Gazette.
