Mechanical Engineering Perspectives of Asthma Relief

Dr. Ahmed Al-Jumaily

Engineering Research Institute

Auckland University of Technology

Asthma is one of the most common and costly diseases affecting approximately 150 million people worldwide. Characterised by bronchial hyperresponsiveness, its traditional treatment involves using expensive, drug-based anti-inflammatory agents and bronchodilators. Such drug therapy techniques relieve only the symptoms of asthma and ultimately promote to the variety of side effects that have been observed. New research, however, demonstrates that physical stimulation may help in significantly relieving the contracted airway passages and restore the natural breathing function of the lung. This presentation demonstrates some modelling and experimental evidences on how pressure oscillations within the airways, can contribute to the relief of constricted airways. Is this an alternative to inhalers?