Asthma recap

• Asthma:

  • An inflammatory disease (commonly caused by allergies e.g pollen or irritants e.g. cold air) of the airways characterised by:
  • an increased responsiveness of the trachea and bronchi to various stimuli
  • manifested by a widespread narrowing (bronchoconstriction) of the airways that changes in severity either spontaneously or as a result of therapy
  • treated with bronchodilators (widen airways) and steroids (reduce inflammation)
  • use an EpiPen as the first call of aid in an attack - fills body with adrenaline
• Asthma Pathophysiology:

  • Narrowing of airway due to
  • Mucosal oedema
  • Constriction bronchial smooth muscle
  • Secretions in lumen
  • Thickening of bronchial wall
  • increase in Airway resistance
  • decrease in Airflow
  • clinical presentation: Breathlessness, hyperventilation, hypertrophy of accessory muscles, hyperinflation (to try keep airways open)
• Pharmacology for Asthma:

  • Bronchodilators
  • Simple short acting → long acting
  • Steroids
  • Inhaled → oral
  • Flu vaccine