Ch 9 Asthma Flashcards
Is asthma reversible?
Yes but not necessarily curable
Symptoms of asthma attack
Shortness of breath
Coughing
Wheezing
Tightness in the chest
In the extreme, person can not breath
What can trigger an asthma attack?
Cold/heat
Humidity
Exercise
Smoking
Allergens (ex: pollen)
Atopic/non-atopic
Viral infections
NSAIDs
Food additives
Psychomatic factors
Pathophysiology of asthma (3)
Inflamed tissue/red/swollen/edema/excessive mucous production
Bronchial hyper responsiveness to other types of stimuli
Immune cells enter the lung tissues in some cases
what composante causes the inflammation and brochoconstriction?
Leukotrienes
The underlying inflammation is thought to be ____
chronic, so a person will always have some level of inflammation in their lungs
two major goals of a drug for asthma
treat asthma attack symptoms
treat the underlying chronic inflammation
4 types of asthma
Intermittent
Mild persistent
Moderate persistent
Severe persistent
Intermittent asthma
1-2 attacks per week, waking up 1 time per month
Mild persistent asthma
3-6 attacks per week, waking up 2-3 times per month
Moderate persistent asthma
7 attacks per week, waking up 4 times per month
Severe persistent asthma
8 or more attacks per week, waking up 5 or more times per month
What happens to the force expiratory volume during severe persistent asthma?
It is between 60% and 80% in the severe form
What is forced expiratory volume?
A test where they try to expel as much as possible. The lower the value, the worse is the lung function
What are short acting beta-agonist (SABA)?
quick relief
prevent an imminent attack
not taken routinely, only as needed
prevent brochonconstriction
What are anticholinergics?
similar in use to short acting drugs
many side effects so not commonly used
prevent brochoconstriction
What are corticosteroids (oral)?
use when needed for quick relief
many side effects
prevent brochoconstriction
What are long acting beta-agonist (LABA)?
inhaled
prevent bronchoconstriction
are slower than SABA
should not be used as needed
use regularly
What are corticosteroids (inhaled)?
do not affect bronchoconstriction/dilation
reduces inflammatory reactions in tissue
used regularly
increases the response of SABA
2 other examples of drugs used rarely
Mast cell stabilizing drugs
Leukotriene modifiers
What is the issue with mast cell stabilizing drugs or leukotriene modifiers?
Issues with effectiveness and toxicity, they have lower TI than the other drugs
Do you rinse your mouth after using the inhaler?
Only needed if taking corticosteroids
