ASTHMA

Done by: George Attieh

Antoine Habib
Mike Diab
 Definition:

ASTHMA: A common and chronic inflammatory condition of the airways. As a result of inflammation
the airways are hyper-responsive and they narrow easily in response to a wide range of stimuli.

Pathology:
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory process within the airway resulting in recurrent episodes of
wheezing, breathlessness and cough. There is an increased responsiveness of the smooth muscle in the
bronchial wall to various stimuli. Hypertrophy of the mucus glands may lead to mucus plugging. These
changes cause variable airway obstruction, which may become chronic and severe.
 Types of Asthma:

 Childhood extrinsic asthma: where airway narrowing is triggered by exposure to one of the common
environmental allergens.
 Adult-onset, intrinsic asthma: where only non-specific events, such as viral infections, cold, exercise
or stress may trigger an asthma attack.
 Allergic: Some people’s allergies can cause an asthma attack. Allergens include things like molds,
pollens and pet dander.
 Non-allergic: Outside factors can cause asthma to flare up. Exercise, stress, illness and weather may
cause a flare.
 Asthma Classification:

1. Mild intermittent asthma. Mild symptoms less than twice a week.

Nighttime symptoms less than twice a month. Few asthma attacks.
2. Mild persistent asthma. Symptoms three to six times a week.
Nighttime symptoms three to four times a month. Asthma attacks might
affect activities.
3. Moderate persistent asthma. Daily asthma symptoms. Nighttime
attacks five or more times a month. Symptoms may affect activities.
4. Severe persistent asthma. Ongoing symptoms both day and night. You
have to limit your activities.
 Causes of Asthma

 Air pollution
 Tobacco smoke
 Exercise
 Cold air or changes in the weather, such as temperature or humidity
 Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
 Strong emotions such as anxiety, laughter, sadness, or stress
 Medications such as aspirin
 Risk Factors:

 Whether your parents have asthma, especially your mother

 Genes
 Race, Asthma is more common in people of African American or Puerto Rican descent.
 Sex, Boys are more likely to have asthma than girls. In teens and adults, it’s more common in females.
 Job
 Lung infections, allergies, or obesity
 Diagnosis:

 The doctor will start with a physical exam and ask about your symptoms and medical
history.
 Spirometry: This simple breathing test measures how much air you blow out
and how fast.
 Exhaled nitric oxide test. You breathe into a tube connected to a machine that
measures the amount of nitric oxide in your breath. Your body makes this gas
normally, but levels could be high if your airways are inflamed.

Other tests you can do:

 Sputum eosinophils. This test looks for high levels of white blood cells
 (eosinophils) in the mix of saliva and mucus (sputum) that comes out when you
cough.
 Chest X-Ray
 CT-Scan
 Treatment:

 Long-term control medications such as inhaled corticosteroids are the most important medications
used to keep asthma under control. These preventive medications treat the airway inflammation that
leads to asthma symptoms. Used on a daily basis, these medications can reduce or eliminate asthma
flare-ups.

 Quick-relief inhalers contain a fast-acting medication such as albuterol. These medications are

sometimes called rescue inhalers. They're used as needed to quickly open your airways and make
breathing easier. Knowing when to use these medications can help prevent an impending asthma
attack
 Resources:

 www.webmd.com
 www.mayoclinic.org
 my.clevelandclinic.org