UW PROFESSOR PUTS FOCUS ON SEVERE ASTHMA PHYSIOLOGIST FINDS EVIDENCE THAT SEVERE ASTHMA MAY BE DIFFERENT FORM OF THE DISEASE.(LOCAL) From: Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI) | Date: April 13, 2008 | COPYRIGHT 2008 Capital Newspapers. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

Byline: ANITA CLARK aclark@madison.com 608-252-6138

As nearly 20 million Americans know firsthand, asthma is a frustrating and frightening disease. Doctors don't know why it's been increasing since the early 1980s.

Most people with this chronic disease have mild to moderate symptoms that are well controlled with medication.

But five to 10 percent of them have severe asthma, suffering serious attacks that can require repeated hospital stays and inten...