People who suffer from asthma have a lot of choices today for treating their condition. Unfortunately, these choices can lead to confusion–and preventable symptoms and attacks.

In less than two months, life-saving albuterol inhalers used by nearly 40 million patients with respiratory disorders will no longer be sold. After December 31, 2008, manufacturing or selling albuterol inhalers in the U.S. that contain chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellants will no longer be permissible because they destroy the Earth’s ozone layer. These inhalers have been replaced with four distinct non-CFC propelled alternatives, which contain hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellant.

An analysis of large population databases has recently yielded important findings about chronic corticosteroid use. According to experts at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) in Seattle, there is some unexpected impact on bones.

America’s tweens and teens more than doubled their use of type 2 diabetes medications between 2002 and 2005, with girls between 10 and 14 years of age showing a 166 percent increase. One likely cause: Obesity, which is closely associated with type 2 diabetes.

Data presented recently from two pivotal efficacy and safety trials, SHINE and SUN, demonstrated that Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol fumarate dihydrate) inhalation aerosol significantly improved lung function and was well-tolerated in patients with moderate to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) relative to budesonide and formotorol administered alone, and placebo.