Asthma Flashcards
Asthma
chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways
Chronic
persistent/ long lasting symptoms. Usually lasts for more than three months.
Asthma is know as a what type of condition?
heterogenous condition which means there are many factors which cause it.
Asthma prevalence
an estimate of the percentage of the US population with asthma.
Asthma period prevalance
the percentage of the population that had asthma in the previous 12 months
NACP National asthma control program
helps millions gain control over their disease
Which groups are more likely to have asthma?
the black population/ lower income groups/ older women/ younger men
Symptoms of Asthma
Repeated episodes of wheezing
Breathlessness.
Chest tightness.
Nighttime or early morning coughing.
What are the four classifications of asthma?
What are the different types of allergen testing?
mild intermittent
mild persistent
moderate persistent
severe persistent
scratch- scratch to let the allergen on the surface of skin in.
intradermal- inject just below the skin
patch- place patch on the skin.
mild intermittent
symptoms do not occur on a consistent basis and can go through long periods of time with out symptoms
Mild persistent
coughing, wheezing, chest tightness 3-6 times a week,
waking up at night coughing.
moderate persistent
daily symptoms may cause night time awakening
severe persistent
continuous symptoms and wake up regularly at night to asthma
for those with asthma what are the changes in respiratory passages?
airways become inflamed with swelling of the bronchial mucous membrane and secretion of excessive thick mucus that is difficult to expel.
What causes asthma
gene-by environment interactions
atopy
viral respiratory infections
smoking during pregnancy
