ELFH - Respiratory disorders and the dental patient Flashcards
What respiratory diseases will be focused on?
asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
What is asthma?
an inflammatory disorder characterised by reversible airway obstruction
a chronic inflammatory disorder of the lower airways resulting in recurrent episodes of dyspnoea, cough and wheeze due to reversible airway obstruction
Symptoms of chronic obstructive asthma?
chronic nocturnal cough
wheeze
breathlessness
When are chronic asthma symptoms worse?
in the morning around 3am and there is diurnal variation.
What could be a trigger of asthma?
cold air
exercise
smoke
house dust mites
drugs such as non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and beta blockers also precipitate asthma
Drugs which could trigger asthma?
drugs such as non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and beta blockers also precipitate asthma
What art of the airway does asthma affect?
lower airway
Word for difficult or laboured breathing?
dyspnoea
2 forms of asthma?
extrinsic
intrinsic
Commonest type of asthma?
extrinsic
What is extrinsic asthma?
‘atopic asthma’ is of an allergic nature.
exposure to an extrinsic allergen results in a histamine-mediated chain of events
It is associated with hayfever and eczema. Exposure to allergens at work and to drugs are also classed as extrinsic asthma.
What is extrinsic asthma associated with?
It is associated with hayfever and eczema.
Exposure to allergens at work and to drugs are also classed as extrinsic asthma.
How would you describe the chain of events n extrinsic asthma?
histamine-mediated chain of events
What is intrinsic asthma?
non-immune triggers, that have little or no effect on normal subjects, result in the symptoms of asthma
more common in older pts
intrinsic asthma is not associated with allergic pathways
it is seen with pulmonary infections, cold air, stress an exercise
What type for asthma is more common in older pts?
intrinsic asthma
What triggers intrinsic asthma?
pulmonary infections, cold air, stress an exercise
Airway hyper-responsiveness?
Exposure to a precipitant in a predisposed individual results in specialised immune cells (mast cells) releasing pro-inflammatory chemicals, the most important of which is histamine.
These act on airway epithelial and smooth muscle cells causing airway narrowing, that is bronchoconstrictor response, resulting in the classic symptoms of asthma.
3 main mechanisms resulting in the classic symptoms of asthma?
Airway hyper-responsiveness causes…
bronchial muscle contraction
mucosal swelling or inflammation
mucous production
Stepwise management of asthma according to BTS guidelines?
step 1: give inhaled beta-2-receptor agonists
step 2: add inhaled corticosteroids
step 3: increase inhaled steroid, add long-acting beta-2-receptor agonist
step 4: trial other anti-inflammatories, for example, aminophylline, montelukast
step 5: give oral steroid therapy
what is the first call of action with chronic asthma?
inhaled beta 2 receptor agonist
step 2 in management of chronic asthma?
inhaled corticosteroids
What is COPD?
characterised by progressive airway obstruction with little or no reversibility
it encompasses both chronic bronchitis and emphysema - rarely a pure disease
emphysema?
result of permanent damage to the distal airspaces resulting in impairment of lung function and gaseous exchange, with potential retention of CO2.
shortness of breath
2 diseases contributing to COPD?
both chronic bronchitis and emphysema