asthma

Question 1

what is asthma?

Answer 1

• chronic respiratory condition
• affects airways in lungs
• airways become inflammed, narrowed
• difficult for air flow in/out of lungs

Question 2

what stimulates asthma attack?

Answer 2

• allergens
• respiratory infections
• cold air

Question 3

what causes the wheeze?

Answer 3

caused by narrowing of airways in lungs, making it difficult for air to flow freely

Question 4

histology asthma

Answer 4

Question 5

what is salbutamol? how does it work?

Answer 5

• commonly used to treat asthma
• bronchodilators ( beta 2 adrenergic agonists )
• targets specific receptors in airway muscles - relaxation + dilation of airways - easy airflow

Question 6

what is beclometasone? how does it work?

Answer 6

• corticosteroid
• manage inflammation in airways
• various forms - inhalers, nasal sprays

Question 7

what are theophylines? indication? mechanism of action

Answer 7

• treat respiratory conditions - asthma, COPD
• bronchodilator + anti-inflammatory effects

mechanism of action

• competitively inhibits type 3 and type 4 PDE - enzyme responsible for breaking down cyclic AMP in smooth muscle cells - resulting in bronchodilation
• reduces airway responsiveness to histamine, methacholine, adenosine, and allergen.