Asthma and COPD

Question 1

define obstructive respiratory disease

Answer 1

conditions that cause the narrowing of the large, medium and small sized airways (bronchi)-> this results in air trapping and hyperinflation.

Question 2

spirometry in obstructive respiratory disease

Answer 2

low fev1 and normal fvc and therefore, fev1/fvc <70%

Question 3

asthma is characterised by

Answer 3

rrecurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing, varies in severity and frequency from person to person.
more than one of wheeze, breathlessness, chest tightness, cough

Question 4

epidemiology of asthma

Answer 4

2.6-4/1000 individuals in the uk (3-34% worldwide)
prevalence is 8% of adults and 20% of children: 5.4M people in the uk
1500 deaths every year and 185 hospital admissions every day.
1B spent by the nhs in treating asthma
deaths in the uk is 50% greater than in the EU

Question 5

aetiology of asthma

Answer 5

airways inflammation (type I hypersensitivity)that occurs when a genetically susceptible inidividual with atopy is exposed to certain environmental factors