Asthma - Adults and Kids Flashcards
what is the definition of asthma (3)
increased responsiveness of airway by stimuli
wide spread narrowing - changes in severity
what are the symptoms of asthma (in adults) (5)
expiratory wheeze
dry cough
chest tightness (central = cardiac, peripheral = respiratory)
dyspnoea (S.O.B)
expiration difficulties
what is the scale of acute asthma attacks - what else should you keep in mind when dealing with patents in these attacks
moderate, severe, life threatening, near fatal
that life threatening attack might not cause distress
what is asthmas mechanism of attack
airway inflammation by immune system
what is the prevalence of asthma in adults
5-10% of adults (most chronic UK condition)
it adulthood it effects females at a greater rate than males
what dose airway inflammation lead to (2)
widespread narrowing of airways
or increase airway reactivity
what does increased airway reactivity lead to (2)
spontaneous airway narrowing
airway narrowing by a stimuli
what is the difference between a normal airway and asthmatic airway
asthmatic airway has is thicker and chronically inflamed
what happens to a asthmatic airway during a attack
the relaxed smooth muscle tightens and traps air in the alveoli
what are the 3 proven risk factors for asthma
inherited genes
maternal smoking
occupation
what is atopy
an inherited predispostiton
produce IgE when exposed to environmental allergens
leads to hightend immune response
what is atopy
an inherited predisposition
produce IgE when exposed to environmental allergens
leads to heightened immune response
if first degree family memebers have asthma or another atopic disease what happens
the risk of you getting asthma increases
especially if mum has it (3X more likely compared to dad)
if first degree family members have asthma or another atopic disease what happens
the risk of you getting asthma increases
especially if mum has it (3X more likely compared to dad)
what dose maternal smoking cause in the child
higher risk of asthma
higher risk of attack due to higher airway responsiveness
child has reduced FEV1
what is the grandmother effect - what phenomenon is this
grandma smokes (on maternal side, more likely to get asthma)
epigenetic = hereditary trait that doesn’t relate to a change in DNA sequence
how much asthma is caused by occupation
10-15% of adult onset asthma
what are some examples of occupations at higher risk of asthma
backers , painters
what is the most important thing about making a asthma diagnosis
HISTORY!!!!
what relating to the symptoms of asthma can lead to a more likely diagnosis
variation of symptoms depending on time/season/work or weekend
asthma also has triggers what are some of them
exercise URTI - rhinovirus cold air cigarette smoke pets drugs
what drugs act as asthma triggers (2)
Beta blockers
aspirin
it wont be asthma if there is (3)
clubbing
stridor (something blocking the airway, pos. aspiration)
asymmetric expansion
what is asthma an example of
a obstructive disease
obstructs airflow
