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Respiratory > Asthma > Flashcards

Asthma Flashcards

1
Q

What is Asthma in a nutshell?

A
  • Narrowing and swelling of the airways
  • Recurrent attacks of the bronchospasm
  • Constriction of the muscles in the walls of the bronchi
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2
Q

What are bronchospasms often triggered by?

A

Allergic reaction - the immune system overreacts

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3
Q

What does the airway produce in relation to asthma?

A

Produced excess mucus which then further narrows the airways

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4
Q

What is the management for asthma?

A
  • Bronchodilators - this opens the airway which relaxes smooth muscle
  • Reduce inflammation by inhaled corticosteroids
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5
Q

What are the main causes of asthma?

A

Intrinsic - allergens, internal responses
Extrinsic - non-allergens, smoke, pollution

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6
Q

What happens to the airway in relation to intrinsic asthma?

A

Stimuli target hyper-responsive tissue leading to bronchoconstriction and inflammation

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7
Q

What are some examples of intrinsic asthma?

A
  • Infection = viral infections which can lead to airway irritation and inflammation
  • Drugs = like aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause asthma attacks
  • Stress = exacerbate asthma symptoms triggering inflammatory response
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8
Q

What is extrinsic asthma in relation to the immune system?

A

Exaggerated immune response - airway inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and increased mucus production

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9
Q

What are some examples of extrinsic asthma?

A

Pollen - trees, grass
Dust mites - microscopic dust mites
Pet dander - proteins found in the skin flakes, salvia, urine of pets
Mold spores - inhaling mold spore or damp enviroments
Food allergens

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10
Q

What is IgE?

A

Immunoglobulin E

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11
Q

What do IgE antibodies bind to?

A

IgE antibodies on the surface of mast cells bind to allergens, leading to mast cell deregulation

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12
Q

What does IgE do as an aintibody?

A

They are a type of antibody which help fights infections and are specifically involved in allergic reactions

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13
Q

What does the immune system do when it detects extrinsic asthma triggers?

A
  • First exposure (sensitisation)
  • Immune system mistakes it for being harmful
  • Body produces the IgE antibodies which attach to mast cells and are now armed ready for exposure
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14
Q

When the IgE antibodies bind to the mast cells what happens?

A
  • Re-exposure (allergic reaction)
  • Causes mast cells to release histamine
  • Triggers bronchoconstriction, mucus production, swelling
  • Symptoms then occur
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15
Q

When antigen reacts with immunoglobulin, what does this cause?

A
  • Histamine, kinins, prostaglandins and other mediators are released
  • These then cause oedema, inflammation and increased mucus production
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16
Q

What does histamine cause?

A
  • This chemical causes blood vessels to become leaky, leading to swelling
  • Swelling and increased mucus production
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17
Q

What does Kinins cause?

A
  • Causes blood vessels to widen (vasodilation) and the muscles around the airways to tighten (bronchoconstriction)
  • Causes muscles around the airway to tighten
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18
Q

What does prostaglandins cause?

A
  • Causes blood vessels to narrow (vasoconstriction) when can lead to low BP and reduce blood flow to the lungs
  • Causes muscles around the airway to tighten
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19
Q

What nerve over stimulates and what happens to the airway?

A
  • Vagus nerve overstimulates
  • This causes a reflex due to excessive coughing = bronchoconstriction & bronchospasm
20
Q

After overstimulation of the vagus nerve, what happens?

A

Air becomes trapped because of this and so forced expiration often causes bronchial collapse

21
Q

When the residual volume increases what happens?

A

Increase in RV makes it difficult to cough so mucus cannot be expelled
Arrythmias and CNS depression can occur

22
Q

What is Residual Volume?

A

Amount of air left in the lungs after exhalation

23
Q

What is mucus plugging and atelectasis?

A
  • Airway become completely obstructed by thick mucus plugs
  • Leads to collapse of the lung tissue - a condition known as atelectasis
  • Collapse of the lung air cannot enter or leave that area
24
Q

When mucus plugging and atelectasis occurs, what happens?

A

Hypoxia is induced by airway constriction

25
Q

Hypoxia which is induced by airway constriction, what happens do O2?

A
  • Air cannot diffuse through areas of the lungs as they are blocked by mucus plugs
  • O2 being transported in bloodstream through the lungs and this will lead to reduce O2 leading to hypoxia
26
Q

What happens to the respiratory muscles during hypoxia?

A
  • Resp. muscles like the diaphragm and intercostal muscles work harder
  • Causes increased effort which leads to laboured breathing
27
Q

What happens when the body cannot get enough O2 in relation to CO2

A

Body cannot move CO2 so this leads up to build up of CO2 in blood

28
Q

What is respiratory acidosis?

A

CO2 dissolved in the blood and forms carbonic acid, lowering blood pH

29
Q

What is metabolic acidosis in relation to cells?

A
  • Switch to anaerobic respiration production lactic acid
  • This further reduces blood pH and causes a dangerous imbalance
30
Q

What is hypoxemia?

A

Abnormally low levels of O2 in the blood

31
Q

What does hypoxemia trigger?

A

Triggers vasoconstriction in the pulmonary arteries

32
Q

Why is there an increased workload on the right side of the heart?

A

As the right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs - the right ventricle has to work harder to push blood through narrowed bessels

This is due to pulmonary vasoconstriction occurs due to hypoxemia

33
Q

What can happen in severe cases of increased work load on the heart due to pulmonary vasoconstriction?

A

Due to increased pressure (pulmonary hypertension) this strains the right side of the heart and can lead to right heart failure as well as increased JVP

34
Q

What are eosinophils?

A

Type of WBC that helps body fight off parasites and responds to allergens

35
Q

In relation to asthma, what do eosinophils do?

A
  • Asthma attack they are over-activated in response to allergens or irritants
  • Cause airway narrowing and inflammation
36
Q

What long-term damage does eosinophils cause?

A

Long-term swelling and can damage airways making asthma worse over time

37
Q

What chemical mediators do eosinophils release and what do they do?

A
  • Leukotrienes
  • Powerful chemical that contributes to inflammatory response
38
Q

What do Leukotrienes cause?

A

Causes bronchoconstriction, increase mucus production which lead to prolonged inflammation

39
Q

What are Chemotactic Factors

A

Small molecules released by mast cells that act as a signal to attract other immune cells - WBC to the site of inflammation

40
Q

What are cytokines?

A

Signalling proteins also released by cells

41
Q

What are Cytokines crucial for?

A

Cell-to-cell communication and influence behaviour of immune cells

42
Q

What do Cytokines help coordinate?

A

The immune response by activating, attracting and increase production of other WBC

43
Q

What happens when mast cells are activated?

A

Mast cells are activated and release chemotactic factors and cytokines

44
Q

Once chemotactic factors and cytokines are released, what do the chemicals signal?

A
  • They signal eosinophils and neutrophils to move into inflamed area of lungs and airway
  • Influx of other WBC intensifies the immune response which leads to more inflammation and further constriction of the airways
45
Q
A

Respiratory (4 decks)

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