Asthma is related to certain changes in how things work in your airways and with your immune system, especially the allergic type of asthma. Now, new research reveals that certain specialized cells, called T cells, may be the root of the problem – and maybe also part of the solution.

Now, if that sounds confusing, believe me, I understand. But it's true, or at least this new study seems to suggest that it is. First, let's look at the immune system. Experts have known for some time that asthma and allergies are related to the immune system. When you are exposed to certain airborne substances, such as pollen or dust, cells in the immune system make note of their passage into your body and decide how to react and respond.

In someone who does NOT have asthma, these special immune cells record and remember the substance and program your body to see them as harmless in the future. So an allergic response is blocked. But, in a person with asthma, the immune cells do not do their job in blocking the allergic response, and so asthma symptoms can ensue.

The study showed that the cells involved with this mechanism are produced in response to instructions from the gene Foxp3. These regulatory T cells are known as Treg cells. They reside in the mucus linings of your airways, and new, specialized Treg cells are normally made for each new potential allergen.

Researchers also found that these Treg cells can help control inflammation in the airways over the long term, even when they don't totally block the inflammation from occurring in the first place. This is important because people with asthma often suffer serious complications from chronic inflammation. If experts could find a way to increase the numbers of Treg cells in our airway linings, it might help prevent these complications.

So, now that these researchers have identified the cells that are involved with preventing allergic reactions, they can work on producing such cells on demand.

It's important for people with asthma to have the facts about pneumonia vaccine. Pneumonia is a respiratory infection that can be caused by both bacteria and viruses, but bacterial pneumonia infections tend to be the most severe. The most common type of bacterial pneumonia – and the most problematic for people with asthma – is pneumococcal pneumonia.

Pneumococcal pneumonia is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable death in the United States. When you have asthma, your airways are already somewhat inflamed and therefore more susceptible to infection. So, pneumonia can be serious business for people with asthma.

The best way to stay healthy and not get pneumococcal pneumonia is to avoid being exposed to it. But, if you work or go to school, that's not always easy. So, the next best pneumonia prevention method is to get the pneumonia vaccine. Most people only need to get a pneumonia vaccine once in their lives.

Getting a pneumonia vaccine can definitely provide significant protection from pneumococcal pneumonia, which can be a complication of the flu. So, if your doctor recommends it for you, a pneumonia vaccine can be an important step in keeping your airways healthy, especially during flu season.

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