Understanding and Managing Eosinophilic Asthma with Dr. Ravi Viswanathan
Real Talk: Eosinophilic Diseases
Release Date: 11/19/2021
The Spoon Theory and Eosinophilic Disorders
Real Talk: Eosinophilic Diseases
Co-host Ryan Piansky, a graduate student and patient advocate living with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and eosinophilic asthma, and co-host Holly Knotowicz, a speech-language pathologist living with EoE, who serves on APFED’s Health Sciences Advisory Council, have a conversation about the Spoon Theory. In this episode, Ryan and Holly discuss the origin of the Spoon Theory, their experiences, and what the Spoon Theory means in their lives. Listen to this episode to learn how the Spoon Theory could work for you. Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is designed to...
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Gastro Girl and GI Diseases: Conversation With Jacqueline Gaulin
Real Talk: Eosinophilic Diseases
Description: Co-host Ryan Piansky, a graduate student and patient advocate living with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and eosinophilic asthma, and co-host Holly Knotowicz, a speech-language pathologist living with EoE, who serves on APFED’s Health Sciences Advisory Council, speak with Jacqueline Gaulin, the Founder of Gastro Girl, a source of information for people living with various gastrointestinal disorders. In this episode, Ryan and Holly interview Jacqueline Gaulin about her career, how she started Gastro Girl, its podcast, and the partnership between Gastro Girl, the American College...
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The Family Risk of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Diseases
Real Talk: Eosinophilic Diseases
Description: Co-host Ryan Piansky, a graduate student and patient advocate living with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and eosinophilic asthma, and co-host Mary Jo Strobel, APFED’s Executive Director, speak with Dr. Kathryn Peterson, MD, MSCI, a Professor of Gastroenterology at the University of Utah Health. In this episode, Ryan and Mary Jo interview Dr. Peterson about the family risk of eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases, discussing the studies she has done, future work she is planning, and other studies of related topics. She shares that she is a parent to a patient living with an...
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Remodeling and Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)
Real Talk: Eosinophilic Diseases
Description: Co-host Ryan Piansky, a graduate student and patient advocate living with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and eosinophilic asthma, and co-host Holly Knotowicz, a speech-language pathologist living with EoE, who serves on APFED’s Health Sciences Advisory Council, speak with Dr. Amanda Muir, an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. In this episode, Ryan and Holly interview Dr. Muir about tissue remodeling and eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Dr. Muir describes remodeling and stiffening, its effects, and how it relates to treatment and...
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Journey to an Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) Diagnosis
Real Talk: Eosinophilic Diseases
Description: Co-host Ryan Piansky, a graduate student and patient advocate living with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and eosinophilic asthma, and co-host Holly Knotowicz, a speech-language pathologist living with EoE, who serves on APFED’s Health Sciences Advisory Council, speak with Moises Velasquez-Manoff, a health and science writer living with EoE. He is a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine. He writes about the human microbiome and its impact on health, as well as climate, COVID-19, and other health and science topics. In this episode, Ryan and Hollyinterview Moises...
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Community Perspective: Eosinophilic Gastritis (EoG)
Real Talk: Eosinophilic Diseases
Description: Co-host Ryan Piansky, a graduate student and patient advocate living with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and eosinophilic asthma, and co-host Mary Jo Strobel, APFED’s Executive Director, speak with Dr. Jenny Huang, an allergy and immunology fellow at Scripps Clinic, who has a unique perspective of also living with eosinophilic gastritis (EoG). In this episode, Ryan and Mary Jo interview Dr. Jenny Huang about various EGIDs, her allergy and immunology fellowship, her EoG diagnosis, and the elimination diet she follows to treat her EoG. Dr. Huang speaks about patients she sees,...
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Community Perspective: Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Real Talk: Eosinophilic Diseases
Description: Co-host Ryan Piansky, a graduate student and patient advocate living with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and eosinophilic asthma, and Holly Knotowicz, a speech-language pathologist and feeding specialist living with EoE, who serves on APFED’s Health Sciences Advisory Council, talk with Declan, a teenager living with eosinophilic esophagitis. In this episode, Ryan and Holly interview Declan about his EoE diagnosis, his dietary restrictions, how he receives support from his parents and friends, and upcoming milestones such as transitioning clinical care to an adult provider and...
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Esophageal String Test: Monitoring Tool Use and Development
Real Talk: Eosinophilic Diseases
Description: Co-host Ryan Piansky, a graduate student and patient advocate living with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and eosinophilic asthma, and Holly Knotowicz, a speech-language pathologist and feeding specialist living with EoE who serves on APFED’s Health Sciences Advisory Council, talk with Drs. Robin Shandas and Steven Ackerman, are scientists who work together at EnteroTrack. In this episode, Ryan and Holly interview Drs. Shandas and Ackerman about the development of the esophageal string test (EST), or simply the string test. They discuss the initial concept and the work that led...
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Live from APFED’s EOS Connection 2023
Real Talk: Eosinophilic Diseases
Description: Ryan Piansky, a college student and patient advocate living with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and eosinophilic asthma, and Holly Knotowicz, a speech pathologist living with EoE who specializes in feeding therapy and serves on APFED’s Health Sciences Advisory Council recorded this episode live at APFED’s annual patient education conference in Denver, CO. They shared their experiences with this year’s conference, discussed takeaways from the conference presentations, and offered ways to continue the conversation. Recordings of the conference presentations are available to...
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Proton Pump Inhibitors and EoE
Real Talk: Eosinophilic Diseases
Description: Co-host Mary Jo Strobel, APFED’s Executive Director, is joined by co-host Holly Knotowicz, a speech-language pathologist and feeding specialist living with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) who serves on APFED’s Health Sciences Advisory Council. They talk with guest Dr. James Franciosi, Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at Nemours Children’s Health in Orlando, Florida. In this episode, Mary Jo Strobel and Holly Knotowicz interview Dr. James Franciosi about his research with proton pump inhibitors, personalized medicine, the different factors...
info_outlineDr. Viswanathan is a board-certified Allergist & Immunologist, and Assistant Professorin the Section of Allergy, Pulmonary & Critical Care at the University of WisconsinSchool of Medicine & Public Health, as well as the Medical Director of the Allergy Clinic.His research and clinical interests include severe asthma, mast cell disorders, and drugallergy. Dr. Viswanathan has authored and co-authored multiple publications and bookchapters, including the chapter on “Management of Asthma in Adolescents and Adults”in Middleton’s Allergy Textbook. He is also involved with teaching at the University ofWisconsin School of Medicine for topics on asthma, drug allergy, and muscle disorders.
In this episode, Dr. Viswanathan shares more about the different types of asthma, andthe differences between them. He explains more about the diagnostic journey for aperson with eosinophilic asthma, the different triggers that may exacerbate symptoms, and treatment options available to patients. Dr. Viswanathan also sheds light onresearch being conducted in this area, and how patients may better manage theirasthma by working closely with their healthcare team. Tune in to find out more abouteosinophilic asthma and how patients can get better outcomes and improve their qualityof life.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is designed to support, not replace therelationship that exists between listeners and their healthcare providers. Opinions, information,and recommendations shared in this podcast are not a substitute for medical advice. Decisionsrelated to medical care should be made with your healthcare provider. Opinions and views ofguests and co-hosts are their own.
Key Takeaways:
[1:43] Ryan introduces the guest for this episode — Dr. Ravi Viswanathan.
[2:20] Dr. Viswanathan shares a bit about his background and experience treating people who have asthma.
[3:57] What do the terms “phenotype” and “endotype” mean? What are the differences between them?
[5:25] What are some examples of different phenotypes of asthma?
[6:03] There has been a growing awareness of eosinophilic asthma. What has led to this awareness?
[7:34] What makes the phenotype in eosinophilic asthma different from other types of asthma?
[8:27] Ryan shares his experience about having asthma as a child and having high eosinophil counts, but only being diagnosed with eosinophilic asthma much later. Is this a common occurrence?
[9:25] At what point do doctors start to establish a diagnosis for a specific phenotype of asthma, instead of just asthma in general?
[10:55] What are some common tests that can help diagnose between specific phenotypes of asthma?
[13:08] Dr. Viswanathan shares more about sputum samples and bronchial washing.
[14:35] What is considered well-controlled asthma, and how can people know if their asthma is indeed well-controlled?
[15:56] What are some common asthma triggers, and are these triggers generally consistent across different types of asthma?
[18:15] What are some things beyond medicine that can help control asthma?
[20:25] What are some treatment options available to people with asthma and what are the differences between these treatments?
[24:00] How do these treatment options work to help people with asthma?
[25:49] Having a combination of therapies may help patients better deal with their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
[27:02] Is immunotherapy or a gradual increased exposure to triggers to build up tolerance something that is applicable to EOS asthma?
[28:48] How quickly would symptoms return for someone whose treatment has been stopped or interrupted?
[30:02] How often should patients visit their doctor to monitor all the factors involved in EOS asthma?
[31:07] What is the benefit of having different treatment options available?
[33:43] Are there large disparities in efficacy between different drugs used in treatment?
[35:21] From a research perspective, what are some areas that are being looked at in regard to eosinophilic asthma?
[36:48] Dr. Viswanathan shares some final closing thoughts.
Mentioned in This Episode:
American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED)
APFED on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram
Dr. Ravi Viswanathan at UW Health
APFED Resources on Eosinophilic Asthma
EOS Connections Online Community
This episode is brought to you thanks to the support of our Education Partner: GlaxoSmithKline.