ASTHMA
ASTHMA
ASTHMA
ASTHMA: A common and chronic inflammatory condition of the airways. As a result of inflammation
the airways are hyper-responsive and they narrow easily in response to a wide range of stimuli.
Pathology:
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory process within the airway resulting in recurrent episodes of
wheezing, breathlessness and cough. There is an increased responsiveness of the smooth muscle in the
bronchial wall to various stimuli. Hypertrophy of the mucus glands may lead to mucus plugging. These
changes cause variable airway obstruction, which may become chronic and severe.
Types of Asthma:
Childhood extrinsic asthma: where airway narrowing is triggered by exposure to one of the common
environmental allergens.
Adult-onset, intrinsic asthma: where only non-specific events, such as viral infections, cold, exercise
or stress may trigger an asthma attack.
Allergic: Some people’s allergies can cause an asthma attack. Allergens include things like molds,
pollens and pet dander.
Non-allergic: Outside factors can cause asthma to flare up. Exercise, stress, illness and weather may
cause a flare.
Asthma Classification:
Air pollution
Tobacco smoke
Exercise
Cold air or changes in the weather, such as temperature or humidity
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Strong emotions such as anxiety, laughter, sadness, or stress
Medications such as aspirin
Risk Factors:
The doctor will start with a physical exam and ask about your symptoms and medical
history.
Spirometry: This simple breathing test measures how much air you blow out
and how fast.
Exhaled nitric oxide test. You breathe into a tube connected to a machine that
measures the amount of nitric oxide in your breath. Your body makes this gas
normally, but levels could be high if your airways are inflamed.
Sputum eosinophils. This test looks for high levels of white blood cells
(eosinophils) in the mix of saliva and mucus (sputum) that comes out when you
cough.
Chest X-Ray
CT-Scan
Treatment:
Long-term control medications such as inhaled corticosteroids are the most important medications
used to keep asthma under control. These preventive medications treat the airway inflammation that
leads to asthma symptoms. Used on a daily basis, these medications can reduce or eliminate asthma
flare-ups.
www.webmd.com
www.mayoclinic.org
my.clevelandclinic.org