Asthma (incomplete) Flashcards
what is asthma?
disease of airways, increased responsiveness of the trachea (airways are more irritable to stimuli), no alveolar component
what happens to airways when they are inflamed?
widespread narrowing of airways
what is spontaneous airway narrowing?
happens for no reason, comes and goes
what is stimulating airway narrowing?
involves a stimuli (ex: pollen)
average number of deaths because of asthma? mostly what type of people?
1000 per year, old smokers
GP consultations per year because of asthma?
4,1 million GP consultations per year
what accounts for the rapid increase in asthma prevalence?
environmental changes
what antibody is involved in mast cell degeneration?
IgE
how does atopy affect asthma risk?
if you have atopy = more chance of having asthma
how does occupation affect asthma risk? which are most at risk?
it affects the person’s environment and therefore asthma risk, bakers are most at risk
how does maternal smoking affect asthma risk?
if mother smokes when pregnant, risk = +50%
how does your grandmother smoking while pregnant with your mother affect asthma risk?
if mother smokes when pregnant, risk = +100%
if both smoked during their respective pregnancy?
+150% risk
does allergen exposure give you allergy?
no, exposure might even increase tolerance- it’s about increased sensibility
what is localised asthma?
obstruction of the airways due to a physical barrier (e.g. peas or smth)
what are the symptoms of asthma?
wheeze, breathlessness, chest tightness, cough, sputum
are these symptoms exclusive to asthma? how do you diagnose asthma?
no, it’s about the pattern (triggers… -> going outside in the cold air, cigarette smoke, perfume, going for a run, weekly variations, annual variations which might correspond to environment changes), history (asthma, bronchitis (misdiagnosed as asthma), eczema, hayfever), other drugs, personal social history: smoking, pets, occupational, poor psychosocial profile (stress, unemployment)
what exam do suspected asthma patients undergo?
spirometry
normal FEV1 measures what?
airway diameter
normal FVC measures what?
lung volume
if FEV1 goes down then what? what usually happens with FVC? what type of respiratory disorder is this?
airway diameter is smaller, FVC constant, this is an obstructive respiratory disorder
what is always found in asthma?
wheeze
diagnosis of exclusion?
no, you need to actively make the diagnosis
young patients with asthma are more likely to be with gender?
male
