Respiration through the lifespan Flashcards
What are the signs and symptoms of asthma?
Breathlessness
Chest tightness
Coughing
Wheezing
What is asthma?
A chronic inflammatory condition affecting the airway
can be Extrinsic or Intrinsic
Define Intrinstic
Intrinsic factors include the genetic, physiological, and pathological characteristics of an individual; in other words, these are traits that are “intrinsic” to a person rather than being determined by that person’s environment
Define Extrinsic
originating from or on the outside
especially: originating outside a part and acting upon the part as a whole
PLEASE CHECK THIS DEFININTION
Explain the pathophysiology of asthma
Always some element of breathing obstruction
Airflow is normally limited but reversible
Airway always hyper-responsiveness to stimuli (or trigger factors) causes bronchospasm causes contraction of smooth muscle resulting in narrow airways
Bronchi are always in a state of chronic inflammation (-> eosinophils (WBC for allergies and infections -> release proteins which damage airway lining -> mucous gland hypertrophy and scar tissue allow wall to recover but is thicker
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Atopic (extrinsic)
Allergic disease in childhood -> hypersensitivity reaction that produes IgE antibodies -> over production of histamine produced
- Enviro allergens
Middle age- late onset
- Respiratory tract infection
- Exercise / cold air
- Emotional stress
- Cigarette smoke & perfume exposure
Ebunoluwa is an 8-year-old girl who attends the asthma clinic with the GP practice nurse. Although Ebunoluwa hasn’t had many acute asthma attacks; she often feels mild tightness in the chest and frequently coughs.
Using your knowledge of the pathophysiology of chronic asthma, explain why? (3 marks)
Airflow is normally limited but reversible
The asthmatics airway is always in a condition of being hyper-responsive to stimuli/triggers
Bronchospasm causes contraction of smooth muscle resulting in narrow airways
The bronchi are always in a state of chronic inflammation
There is always some element of obstruction of breathing
What is emphysema?
A chronic, irreversible inflammatory condition affecting the airway
Oxygen should ALWAYS be withheld from a patient with COPD?
False
Which test is used to aid the diagnosis of COPD?
Spirometry
At what point does bronchiolitis peak in it’s symptoms?
3-5 days
What is the most common cause of bronchiolitis?
Viral
What is the most common age group to experience bronchiolitis?
Up to 2 years
Bronchiolitis occurs as a result of the _______ of the lining of the ________ cells of the small airways in the lungs causing ______, inflammation and cellular ________ of those cells. It is the inflammation of these cells that can obstruct the airway and ultimately result in _________ .
Bronchiolitis occurs as a result of the INFLAMMATION of the lining of the EPITHIAL cells of the small airways in the lungs causing MUCUS PRODUCTION, inflammation and cellular NECROSIS of those cells. It is the inflammation of these cells that can obstruct the airway and ultimately result in WHEEZING.
Select the missing words that describe the three characteristics of Asthma:
- Airflow limitation which is normally __________ with treatment.
- Airway hyper-responsiveness from a number of triggers causes _______________. This results in
_________________ of the airways and _____________ of breathing. - __________ of the bronchi is always present and causes the long-term manifestations of asthma such as __________ inflammation leading to _________ of the smooth muscle and constant productions of ________
- Airflow limitation which is normally [REVERSIBLE] with treatment.
- Airway hyper-responsiveness from several triggers causes [BRONCHOSPASM]. This results in [NARROWING] of the airways and [OBSTRUCTION] of breathing
- [inflammation] of the bronchi is always present and causes the long-term manifestations of asthma such as [CHRONIC] inflammation leading to [constriction] of the smooth muscle and constant production of [MUSOUS]