Asthma

Question 1

what is the definiton of Asthma ?

Answer 1

airway disease characterized by increased reactvitiy of the tracheobranchial tree to multitude of stimuli

Question 2

what are the general characterstiscs of asthma ?

Answer 2

intermittent airflow obstruction (heard over exhalation)
airway inflammation
broncjial hyperresponsiveness

Question 3

what is asthmaticus status ?

Answer 3

a severe persistent obstruction

Question 4

what happens in asthma?

Answer 4

inflammation
musccle tightening

Question 5

what are the classic asthma synptoms ?

Answer 5

coughing
wheezing
shortness of breath
chest tightness

Question 6

What are the key things happening in asthma ?

Answer 6

chronic inflammation
airway remodeling
bronchial hyperreactivity

Question 7

explain the airway remodeling

Answer 7

edema - swelling and fluiod buildup
subepithelila fibrosis
smooth msucle hypertrophy - tightening
mucus hypersecretion

Question 8

explain the bronchial hyperreactivity - what happens ?

Answer 8

airways are sensitive to things that normally causes no harm
old air
dust
pollen
exercise

trigger a sudden tightening of the airway muscles (bronchoconstriction), leading to an asthma attack.

Question 9

what are the causes of asthma

Answer 9

pollution
pets
dust
chemicals
mold
infections
heredity
food

Question 10

what are the drugs that could cause asthma ?

Answer 10

Aspirin - Beta blockers
NSAIDS - Sulphite

Question 11

what are the subtypes of asthma

Answer 11

allergic asthma - most common
nonallergic asthma
late onset athma
adult onset eosinophilic asthma - caused by eosinophilic reactions
obisity-associated asthma

Question 12

what is meant by, asthma is heterogeneous ?

Answer 12

it is not the same in everyone. it has different subtypes, with varying mechanisms and treatments as well as different outcomes

Question 13

which antioxidant protects the airways from damage?

Answer 13

GSTP1

Question 14

what is meant by atopy ?

Answer 14

it means that their immune system overreacts to allergens, leading to high levels of IgE antibodies (key players in allergic reactions)

Question 15

explain the chronologic event of asthma when exposed to allergen

Answer 15

allergen encounter -> dendritic cell captures the allergen, present it to TH2 helper -> TH2 activation releasing IL4,IL5,IL13 -> IL4 stimulates IgE attach to mast cells, IL5 activates eosinophils –> then splits into early responds and late responds

Question 16

explain the early allergic response

Answer 16

allergen binds to IgE on mast cells, causing the release of histamine and inflammatory mediators (leukotrienes, prostagladin D2) causing
- bronbchospasm
edema
obstruction

within 20 min

Question 17

explain the late allergic response

Answer 17

the activated eosinophils migrate to the airways an release
- cytokines - promotors of inflammation
leukotrienes - airway narrowing and inflammation
basic proteins - dagame to the lining
leads to:
- airway inflammation
- onstruction
hyper-responsiveness

6-12 hours

Question 18

what are the differences between COPD and asthma

Answer 18

reversibility - asthma usually reversible with treatment
underlying cause - primarily dirven by inflammation and allergic reactions, COPD is mainly caused by smoking and lung irritants

Question 19

explain the subtype severe adult-onset asthma with eosinophilia

Answer 19

• develops late in life, charaterized by high level of eosinophilia
  often non-allergic - often without a strong allergic component
  treatment - need stron midciations glucocorticoids

Question 20

what are nonallergic asthma associated with?

Answer 20

nasal polyposis, aspirin sensitivity
normal serum IgE
IgE levels increased in bronchial wall

Question 21

what are the cough variant in asthma

Answer 21

chronic cough diagnosis requires documentation of bronchial hyperreactivity

Question 22

explain the exercise induced bronchospams in asthma

Answer 22

acute
measureble airway obstruction
occurs in response to exercise

Question 23

explain the significance of occupational asthma

Answer 23

15 % of adult astma is work-related
typical sensitizing agents
high molecular weight substances
- animal and plant hair
- latex
- grains

Question 24

what are the asthma etiology regarding hygiene and diet?

Answer 24

absence of minor infections in childhood
decrease vitamina A, polyunsaturated omega 3 fatty acids
- Vitamin D def, Mg, Ca
- excess sodium
- obesity