Asthma Flashcards
what is asthma characterized by?
- chronic inflammation of the airways
- difficulty breathing due to narrowing of the airways
what happens inside the bronchioles in response to triggers during an asthma attack? (2) what does this lead to?
- smooth muscle spasms
- increased mucus secretion
–> leads to narrowing of the airway, difficulty breathing
what type of sensitivity reaction is involved in asthma?
type I (IgE mediated)
what type of pulmonary disease is asthma?
obstructive
is the exact cause of asthma known? what is it associated with?
exact cause unknown
genetic factors (family histoy) & environmental factors
what are common triggering substances in asthma?
- air pollution: cigarette smoke, car exhaust
- allergen: dust, pets, mold
- medications: aspirin, b-blockers
what are the symptoms of asthma?
- couching
- dyspnea
- wheezing: high pitched whistling during exhalation (expiratoir piepen)
what can you see in the mucus of asthma patients? (2 things)
mucus plugs/casts from small bronchi (‘curschman spirals’)
needle shaped breakdowns of eosinophils (‘Charcot Leyden crystals’)
when during the day can asthma get worse?
early morning, night
how can you measure the amount of obstruction in asthma? (3 things)
- FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 sec)
- PEFR (peak expiratory flow rate)
- frequency of medication use
what is treatment of mild asthma?
- avoid contact with triggering substances
- medications: bronchodilators like SABA (short acting b antagonist)
how do bronchodilators like SABA work?
smooth muscle in lungs relax, dilate airways
what is the treatment of more severe asthma?
- daily corticosteroids (inhalatiecorticosteroid zoals budesonide)
- LABA (long acting beta antagonist)
- leukotriene antagonist
treatment of very severe asthma? (3 things)
- IV corticosteroids
- magnesium sulfate (bronchodilator)
- oxygen therapy
