What is the basic pathophysiology of asthma?

What is the basic pathophysiology of asthma?

The pathophysiology of asthma is complex and involves airway inflammation, intermittent airflow obstruction, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

What is the most common inhaler for asthma?

Albuterol (Accuneb, Proair HFA, Proair Respiclick, Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA) is a SABA. It comes as a nebulizer solution and as inhalers you use for quick relief. It is the most commonly prescribed rescue inhaler for asthma.

What happens to the alveoli during an asthma attack?

During an asthma episode, the mucus-producing cells within the airway increase their output and mucus plugs the airway. The combination of airway narrowing, mucus plugging, and airway inflammation can block portions of the airway entirely. Air becomes trapped in the alveoli (air sacs at the end of the bronchioles).

What is asthma physiologically?

A chronic inflammatory airway disorder, asthma is marked by airway hyperresponsiveness with recurrent episodes of wheezing, coughing, tightness of the chest, and shortness of breath. Typically, these episodes are associated with airflow obstruction that may be reversed spontaneously or with treatment.

What are the pathological changes in asthma?

The pathologic changes include hyperplasia of mucous glands, hyperemia and edema of the mucosa, eosinophilic infiltration of the mucosa, hypertrophy of bronchiolar mus- culature, and formation of mucous plugs.

What are the mechanisms of asthma?

Airway hyperresponsiveness, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness are characteristic features of asthma. Research has focused on mechanisms of airway inflammation, regulation of these processes, and translation of these events into altered lung function.

What are 5 treatments for asthma?

Types of long-term control medications include:

• Inhaled corticosteroids. These are the most common long-term control medications for asthma.
• Leukotriene modifiers. These include montelukast (Singulair), zafirlukast (Accolate) and zileuton (Zyflo).
• Combination inhalers.
• Theophylline.
• Biologics.

Is asthma upper or lower respiratory?

Asthma is associated with inflammation of the lower airways inside your lungs called the bronchial tubes. Colds result from infection with a virus. Cold viruses mainly affect your nose and throat. These are the upper airways.

Does asthma cause crackles?

Adventitious lung sounds (ALS) such as wheezes and crackles are associated with common diseases like asthma [3], chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [4, 5], interstitial lung disease [6], bronchiectasis [7], heart failure [8] and pneumonia [9,10,11].

How is asthma characterized?

Asthma is characterized by recurrent episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. Sputum may be produced from the lung by coughing but is often hard to bring up.

How is asthma categorized?

The four main categories of asthma, a chronic respiratory disease that makes it difficult to breathe, are intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent, and severe persistent. Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways, making it difficult to breathe.