Week 210 - Asthma Flashcards
Week 210 - Asthma: Give a definition of asthma.
• Chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways, characterised by airway hyper-sensitivity, with airway obstruction that is reversible, either with medication or spontaneously.
Week 210 - Asthma: What is the pathophysiology behind asthma?
- Bronchial hyperreactivity, (in response to allergen) producing bronchial spasm.
- Bronchial inflammation (eosinophilic)
Week 210 - Asthma: What are the symptoms of asthma?
- Wheeze
- Breathlessness
- Cough
- Chest tightness
Week 210 - Asthma: What are the signs of a severe asthma attack?
- Tachycardia.
- Hyperexpanded chest.
- Severe dyspnoea with wheezing.
Week 210 - Asthma: What is the pattern of an obstructive airway disease on a spirometry? (FEV1, FVC, FEV1:FVC, PEFR)
FV1 - Reduced
FVC - Normal
FEV1:FVC - <70%
PEFR - Reduced
Week 210 - Asthma: What are the two main types of asthma, give an example of each.
- Extrinsic - IgE mediated - Atopic, occupational.
* Intrinsic - Non-immune - Infection, cold, exercise, stress, irritants.
Week 210 - Asthma: Asthma which is responsive to specific allergens is which type?
• Extrinsic.
Week 210 - Asthma: What are the four classifications of asthma?
- Stage 1 - Intermittent
- Stage 2 - Mild persistent
- Stage 3 - Moderate persistent
- Stage 4 - Severe persistent
Week 210 - Asthma: Describe intermittent asthma in terms of symptoms, night-time symptoms and PEF:FEV1.
- Symptoms - <1 time/week, asymptomatic between attacks.
- Night-time - ≤2 times/month.
- PEF:FEV1 - ≥80% predicted.
Week 210 - Asthma: Describe mild persistent asthma in terms of symptoms, night-time symptoms and PEF:FEV1.
- Symptoms - ≥1/week but 2 times/month.
* PEF:FEV1 - ≥80% predicted.
Week 210 - Asthma: Describe moderate persistent asthma in terms of symptoms, night-time symptoms and PEF:FEV1.
- Symptoms - Daily, use of B2-agonist daily, attacks effect activity.
- Night-time symptoms - >1/week
- PEF:FEV1 - >60% - <80%
Week 210 - Asthma: Describe severe persistent asthma in terms of symptoms, night-time symptoms and PEF:FEV1.
- Symptoms - Continuous, limited physical activity.
- Night-time symptoms - Frequent
- PEF:FEV1 - <60%
(Only need one of these for the asthma to be classed as severe.)
Week 210 - Asthma: What is the primary prophylaxis of asthma?
- Breastfeeding may be beneficial.
* Avoid smoking during pregnancy.
Week 210 - Asthma: What is the secondary prophylaxis of asthma?
- Aeroallergen avoidance.
* Weight loss, in obese patients, to improve control.
Week 210 - Asthma: What are the two main medicine groups for pharmacological management of asthma?
- Bronchodilators
* Anti-inflammatories.
Week 210 - Asthma: Give the types of bronchodilators and examples for each.
- SABAs - Short-acting Beta2-agonists - Salbutamol, ventolin.
- LABAs - Long-acting Beta2-agonists
- Aminophylline
- Magnesium (Severe acute asthma)
Week 210 - Asthma: Give examples of anti-inflammatories used in the treatment of asthma.
- Inhaled corticosteroids.
* Leukotriene antagonists.
Week 210 - Asthma: Aside from a B2-agonist inhaler for prn, what medication should be added to those suffering from mild asthma?
• Low-dose inhaled corticosteroid.
Week 210 - Asthma: Aside from a B2-agonist inhaler for prn, what medication should be added to those suffering from moderate asthma?
- Low-medium dose inhaled corticosteroid.
* LABA
Week 210 - Asthma: Aside from a B2-agonist inhaler for prn, what medication should be added to those suffering from severe asthma?
• High dose inhaled corticosteroid. • LABA • If needed; - Theophylline - Leukotriene antagonist - Oral corticosteroid
Week 210 - Asthma: What is the general population of asthma for intrinsic and extrinsic types?
- Intrinsic - Typically occurs in later life.
* Extrinsic - The most common type of asthma in children and young adults.
Week 210 - Asthma: What is atopy?
• A genetic predisposition towards the development of immediate hypersensitivity towards common environmental allergens.
Week 210 - Asthma: What are the environmental risk factors for developing/antagonising asthma?
- Smoking
- Occupational
- Polution