Environmental Influences On Respiratory Diseases Flashcards
What is Asthma?
Common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterised by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction and bronchospasm
What are common symptoms of asthma?
Wheezing
Coughing
Chest tightness
Shortness of breath
What are some environmental influences on asthma?
Pollens
Thunderstorms (increase pollen levels)
Infectious agents
Fungi
Pets
Animals
Air pollution
What are some occupational influences on asthma?
Flour
Car spray paints
Resins
Cleaning agents
Laboratory animal workers
Wood dusts
What is the epidemiology of asthma?
5-16% of people worldwide have asthma
Wide variation between countries
Increase in prevalence second half of the 20th century
Now plateaued mostly
US study; Poorer individuals, African-Americans
Wide range of risk factors
What is hypersensitivity pneumonitis?
An inflammation of the alveoli within the lung caused by hypersensitivity to inhaled dusts.
What are environmental influences of hypersensitivity pneumonitis?
Farmers lung
Bird fanciers lung
Metal working fluids
Which musical instrument is recently described as a cause of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis?
Bagpipes
What is COPD?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a type of obstructive lung disease characterised by chronically poor airflow.
What are the main symptoms of COPD?
Shortness of breath
Cough
Sputum production.
What is the commonest cause of COPD?
Tobacco Smoking (PAR% 80)
What is Exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO)?
Simple measure of nitrogen oxide in exhaled breath
Simple machines able to do this
Measure in ppb
Generally increased in asthma
Not ‘diagnostic’
A reflection of eosinophilic airway inflammation
High } 50ppb, normal { 25ppb
What are the common occupational causes of asthma?
Grain
Wood
Animals, fish
Latex
Glutaraldehyde
Paints
Isocyanates
Metal working fluids
Metal
How does air pollution affect asthma?
Ambient Air pollution PM2.5 AND PM10 aggravates peoples asthma in childhood and adulthood
How does air pollution affect asthma?
Ambient Air pollution PM2.5 AND PM10 aggravates peoples asthma in childhood and adulthood