CBM Flashcards
(174 cards)
Common triggers for asthma
Allergens (e.g. pets, pollen, dust mites). Cold air Emotions Smoking Viral infection Pollution Drugs (e.g. NSAIDs, beta-blockers).
Pathophysiology of asthma
Triggers activate mast cells to relate spasmogens and chemotaxins.
EARLY PHASE - bronchospasm due to spasmogens
LATE PHASE - inflammation due to chemotaxins (causes attraction of eosinophils/monocytes).
Types of asthma
cause and timing of onset?
- EXTRINSIC - type I hypersensitivity
=> early onset/younger patients (may improve with age)
=> subtype - occupational asthma - INTRINSIC - non-immune mechanisms (often no cause identified).
=> late onset/middle-aged patients
Occupational asthma
extrinsic asthma (but may be later onset due to not working until adulthood)
Occurs due to occupational triggers - chemicals, enzymes in flour, animal substances, dust
Symptoms will be better on days off work/holidays
Asthma - symptoms
Wheeze, SOB, cough (worse at night/early morning/on exercise).
Chest tightness +/- reflux symptoms
Asthma - history
FHx or PMHx of atopy Typical Sx with diurnal variation Identifiable trigger(s)
Asthma - investigations
History + auscultation
Objective measurements - spirometry/BDR test/FeNO/PEF variability
What peak flow results are indicative of asthma?
PEF with >20% variability
What spirometry results are indicative of asthma?
FEV1:FVC <70%
What BDR results are indicative of asthma?
FEV1 >12% improvement after bronchodilator
or >200ml volume increase
What FeNO results are indicative of asthma?
FeNO >40ppb
Management of chronic asthma
- SABA + Low-dose ICS
- Add LABA or LTRA
- increase dose of ICS
- referral to specialist, potentially oral steroids.
Safety netting
Lifestyle factors - smoking, weight loss, avoiding triggers
Asthma reviews
What is important to remember with LABAs in the management of asthma?
do not use without an ICS
Safety netting in chronic asthma
Return if symptoms are getting worse/interfere with daily life/waking up at night.
Will have an annual review for their asthma.
Signs of an acute attack and how to manage:
- reliever inhaler isn’t helping
- too breathless to speak/eat/sleep
- very tight chest/coughing a lot
- RR increasing/feels like can’t get enough air in
=> Puff or PRN inhaler - up to 10 times. Ring 999 if no improvement.
Components of an annual asthma review
- LEVEL OF CONTROL?
- using SABA >3x per week
- night symptoms
- interfering with activities
- chest tightness, wheeze - EXACERBATIONS?
- COMPLIANCE/TECHNIQUE
- SIDE EFFECTS OF MEDICATIONS
What is COPD?
= chronic, progressive, POORLY REVERSIBLE airway obstruction
including chronic bronchitis and emphysema
Chronic bronchitis
CHRONIC BRONCHITIS (“blue bloaters”)
- increased mucous production and inflammatory cells, scarred/thickened epithelium => increased airway resistance
- chromic productive cough
- poor alveolar ventilation => T2RF (CO2 retention, loss of hypoxic drive)
Emphysema
EMPHYSEMA (“pink puffers”)
- Increased protease activity destroys alveoli, decreased elasticity and recoil, enlarged air spaces (decreased SA).
- increased RR and HR to compensate for reduced gas exchange
- cachexia (higher energy demand for respiration).
- poor gas exchange => T1RF (normal CO2)
Risk factors for COPD
Smoking
Occupational dust
Childhood infections
Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency
COPD - symptoms
Productive cough (clear, white sputum)
Progressive dyspnoea + wheeze
Frequent LRTIs
COPD - signs
Increased RR, flapping tremor, cyanosis, barrel-chest
Reduced chest expansion, hyper-resonance
Polyphonic expiratory wheeze, decreased breath sounds.
What might you hear on auscultation in a person with COPD?
Polyphonic expiratory wheeze
(or decreased breath sounds).
MRC Dyspnoea scale
1 - only SOB on strenuous exercise
2 - SOB if hurrying/walking up hill
3 - SOB on flat
4 - Stop for breath after 100m
5 - SOB with ADLs, at rest, etc.
COPD - diagnosis
- Hx and Examination
- Spirometry + BDR
=> BDR - no improvement
=> FEV1 <80%
=> FEV1:FVC <0.7
=> PEF - little variation
- CXR