When the average smartphone user thinks of text messaging, they are usually referring to the quick and easy multimedia communication exchange between mobile users- also known as SMS (short message service) texting.

But long code text messaging, provides a more advanced level of texting capabilities that go beyond the well-known personal exchange to a wireless device and expand to provide benefits for businesses to provide messages to wireless or fixed-lined phones.

If you have asthma, or any condition that requires you to take regular medication, a reminder- whether a post-it note or a string around your finger- is helpful in remembering to take your medicine at the appropriate time to avoid health complications. For children with asthma, it’s an even bigger challenge to get them to remember to use their inhaler, especially when not with their parents.

According to a recent study, children with asthma are more likely to stick to their medication schedules when texted reminders to do so. Researchers at the Women & Children’s Hospital in Buffalo N.Y. have begun using the convenient use of a text message to make those reminders a little more efficient, and guess what, it’s working.

The small trial program involved asthmatic children and young adults ranging from six to 17 years old who had moderate, persistent or severe asthma and used a corticosteroid inhaler regularly to keep their condition under control.

According to the report, after receiving reminder text messages, two of the seven patients showed improved asthma control, and the parents of children said the text messages were “helpful.”

Interestingly enough, none of the teenagers involved in the study saw improved asthma control, which is ironic, considering the level of popularity of text messaging among the teen generation.

"Since teens often communicate by text message, we were surprised to see this approach did not improve the consistency in which they took their medication," allergist Dr. Jennifer S. Lee of Women & Children's Hospital said in a news release.

"Text message reminders help some patients take their medication more regularly. This is a pilot study, so a larger, longer term study is needed to determine if this intervention will ultimately improve asthma control," Lee added.

Stefanie Mosca is a Managing Editor for TMCnet, with a particular focus in wireless technologies as well as mobile and IP communications. She holds a master's degree in journalism from Quinnipiac University and a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of New Haven. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page or follow her on Twitter (News - Alert) @stefaniemosca.

Edited by Chris DiMarco