Asthma and fibrosis: Learning Outcomes:

To state what asthma is To describe some trigger factors

To explain what happens in the lungs in asthma. To recognise what fibrosis is.
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What is asthma?
A chronic disease of the airways that may cause:

Wheezing Breathlessness Chest tightness Night time of early morning coughing

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What causes asthma

Attacks can be triggered by a vast number of allergens. Other trigger factors include: anxiety, exercise and there is possibly a genetic link too.

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Pathology of asthma
Muscles in the wall of bronchi and bronchioles contract.

Diameter of airways is reduced

Mucus secretion increases

This mucus then further obstructs the airways

Mast cells start producing histamine. Lung linings become inflamed Blood vessels dilate and white blood cells invade the lungs
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What asthma does to your lungs

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How does this affect the person.

Basically, the lungs of asthmatics are more sensitive than normal. During an attack the amount of oxygen in the blood can be massively reduced.

The sufferer can begin to turn blue (cyanosis)

In severe attacks reduced oxygen supply to the brain can result in death. Carbon dioxide levels in the blood increase, causing further problems. Over 2,000 people die from asthma attacks every year.
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Childrens ideal peak flow

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Adults ideal peak flow

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What you need to do

Produce a patient friendly information leaflet about asthma. Include as much information and diagrams as you can, but make it easy to read What is asthma What are the symptoms of asthma What causes asthma What can asthmatics do to reduce symptoms How can asthma be treated Use more than one source of information e.g. websites (www.asthma.org.uk, www.lunguk.org etc) Information leaflets Books!!!