Asthma (incomplete)

Question 1

what is asthma?

Answer 1

disease of airways, increased responsiveness of the trachea (airways are more irritable to stimuli), no alveolar component

Question 2

what happens to airways when they are inflamed?

Answer 2

widespread narrowing of airways

Question 3

what is spontaneous airway narrowing?

Answer 3

happens for no reason, comes and goes

Question 4

what is stimulating airway narrowing?

Answer 4

involves a stimuli (ex: pollen)

Question 5

average number of deaths because of asthma? mostly what type of people?

Answer 5

1000 per year, old smokers

Question 6

GP consultations per year because of asthma?

Answer 6

4,1 million GP consultations per year

Question 7

what accounts for the rapid increase in asthma prevalence?

Answer 7

environmental changes

Question 8

what antibody is involved in mast cell degeneration?

Answer 8

IgE

Question 9

how does atopy affect asthma risk?

Answer 9

if you have atopy = more chance of having asthma

Question 10

how does occupation affect asthma risk? which are most at risk?

Answer 10

it affects the person’s environment and therefore asthma risk, bakers are most at risk

Question 11

how does maternal smoking affect asthma risk?

Answer 11

if mother smokes when pregnant, risk = +50%

Question 12

how does your grandmother smoking while pregnant with your mother affect asthma risk?

Answer 12

if mother smokes when pregnant, risk = +100%

Question 13

if both smoked during their respective pregnancy?

Answer 13

+150% risk

Question 14

does allergen exposure give you allergy?

Answer 14

no, exposure might even increase tolerance- it’s about increased sensibility

Question 15

what is localised asthma?

Answer 15

obstruction of the airways due to a physical barrier (e.g. peas or smth)

Question 16

what are the symptoms of asthma?

Answer 16

wheeze, breathlessness, chest tightness, cough, sputum

Question 17

are these symptoms exclusive to asthma? how do you diagnose asthma?

Answer 17

no, it’s about the pattern (triggers… -> going outside in the cold air, cigarette smoke, perfume, going for a run, weekly variations, annual variations which might correspond to environment changes), history (asthma, bronchitis (misdiagnosed as asthma), eczema, hayfever), other drugs, personal social history: smoking, pets, occupational, poor psychosocial profile (stress, unemployment)

Question 18

what exam do suspected asthma patients undergo?

Answer 18

spirometry

Question 19

normal FEV1 measures what?

Answer 19

airway diameter

Question 20

normal FVC measures what?

Answer 20

lung volume

Question 21

if FEV1 goes down then what? what usually happens with FVC? what type of respiratory disorder is this?

Answer 21

airway diameter is smaller, FVC constant, this is an obstructive respiratory disorder

Question 22

what is always found in asthma?

Answer 22

wheeze

Question 23

diagnosis of exclusion?

Answer 23

no, you need to actively make the diagnosis

Question 24

young patients with asthma are more likely to be with gender?

Answer 24

male

Question 25

old patients (40+) with asthma are more likelyto be with gender?

Answer 25

female

Question 26

why is there a peak in asthma prevalence in 2004?

Answer 26

partially because of asthma misdiagnosis

Question 27

what are the five different asthma causes?

Answer 27

infant onset, childhood onset, adult onset, exceptional (pregnancy) onset, occupational asthma

Question 28

what are the mechanism for wheeze?

Answer 28

bronchoconstriction, airway obstruction

Question 29

what is usually accompanying asthma?

Answer 29

shortness of breathe at rest

Question 30

should a lot of weight be put on cough as a symptom?

Answer 30

no