Respiratory System - Asthma Flashcards
Define asthma?
Chronic inflammatory disorder of the airway with typical symptoms
What are the three distinctive characteristics of asthma?
- Airflow limitation (REVERSIBLE)
- Hyper-responsiveness (increased mucus)
- Bronchial inflammation
Name 5 symptoms associated with asthma?
Dyspnoea (EPISODIC)
Wheeze
Cough (NOCTURNAL)
Chest tightness
Name 6 passable triggers associated with asthma?
Allergens Smoking Beta-blockers Exercise Cold air Aspirin
What is typically characteristic of the symptoms of asthma?
Diurnal variation - worse at night and in early morning
What five things should be asked within the history if suspecting asthma?
Exercise tolerance
Disturbed sleep - quantify (days per week - indicative of severity)
Acid-reflux
Other atopies (eczema/hayfever/allergies)
Family Hx of asthma or autopies
Name the signs observed in asthma?
Widespread polyphonic wheeze
Tachypnoea
What is FVC?
Forced vital capacity - volume of air that can be delivered by a full expiration from total lung capacity to residual volume
What is FEV.1?
Forced expiratory volume in 1 second
What pattern is observed in obstructive spirometery?
Both FEV.1 and FVC are reduced
FEV.1 is more reduced
FEV.1/FVC ratio
What three conditions show obstructive spirometery?
COPD
Asthma
Bronchiectasis
What pattern is observed in restrictive spirometery?
Both FEV.1 and FVC are reduced PROPORTIONATELY
FEV.1/FVC ratio >0.75
What conditions show restrictive spirometery?
Fibrosis
Heart failure
Neuromuscular disorders
Chest wall deformity
In the stepwise management of asthma - describe step 1?
Short acting B2 agonist - Salbutamol
In the stepwise management of asthma - describe step 2?
Inhaled corticosteroids - Beclametasone/Fluticasone
