Lancet, the prestigious medical journal, in its editorial devoted to asthma research, paints a bleak future for those suffering from asthma. The authors of the editorial reiterate, with no scientific understanding of the disorder or treatment options, the future remains bleak for asthmatics. In essence, as yet no one knows what asthma is, who gets it and why and which factors predict its severity and response to treatment.

The authors plead that asthma should be abandoned as a disease concept, as at best it is a syndrome with different risk factors, different prognoses, and different responses to treatment. Till we understand it better, including the underlying differences and target treatment efforts, prevention will remain elusive.

Studies show asthma quite often has roots in early childhood and involves a combination of genes and environmental factors. Many people find it hard to control their symptoms, but by using correct treatment guidelines and applying them rigorously, one can improve control of asthma greatly.

Other studies show allergic rhinitis and, to a lesser extent, non-allergic rhinitis to be strong predictors of adult-onset asthma.   
 
Slow progress in understanding asthma makes treatment difficult and a cure for it nothing but a pipe dream. One of the most important chronic diseases, Asthma remains a genuine medical mystery.  Reporting in the 20th September 2008 issue of The Lancet, Mahoud Zureik, M.D., of the National Institute of Health and Medical Research, and colleagues believe men and women who have a history of allergy showed a 3.5 time propensity to develop new-onset asthma.  While, those suffering from non-allergic rhinitis showed more than two-and-a half times risk of developing asthma.

Asthma-like symptoms, or bronchial hyper-responsiveness, in patients with rhinitis could indicate undiagnosed asthma.