Asthma

Question 1

what is asthma?

Answer 1

a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways

Question 2

what is asthma characterised by?

Answer 2

hypersensitivity, reversible outflow obstruction and bronchospasm

Question 3

what happens to the small airways in asthma? what does it cause?

Answer 3

There is remodelling of the small airways, causing increased smooth muscle thickness around the bronchioles, damaged epithelium and a thickened basement membrane

Question 4

what are asthma attacks?

Answer 4

acute exacerbations of the condition whereby a trigger (e.g. allergens, exercise) causes sudden inflammation and contraction of the smooth muscle around bronchioles (bronchospasm)

Question 5

what happens in bronchospasm?

Answer 5

This narrows the airways, causing difficulty in breathing and wheezing, a characteristic feature of asthma