Clinical medicineLesson 1 of 3 in the course Respiratory disease

Asthma: Airway Mechanisms, Diagnosis, Classification, and Management

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson introduces asthma as a long-term airway disease, explains its common symptoms, and considers how it affects people around the world.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. Inflammation makes the airways sensitive and prone to narrowing. The resulting airflow restriction can vary over time, so symptoms may come and go rather than remain constant.

All flashcards

What is airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma?
An exaggerated airway response to stimuli, causing greater-than-normal narrowing.
How do asthma phenotype and endotype differ?
A phenotype describes how asthma presents; an endotype describes its underlying biological mechanisms.
What does bronchodilator reversibility mean?
Improvement in airflow after a bronchodilator, which supports an asthma diagnosis.
What is an asthma exacerbation?
An episode of increased asthma symptoms and reduced lung function.
What is the role of inhaled corticosteroids in asthma?
They act as controller medicines that reduce airway inflammation and help prevent symptoms and exacerbations.

Quiz questions

  1. How is asthma severity assessed after treatment has been optimized?Answer: By the amount of medication needed to achieve control.
  2. What spirometry finding after a bronchodilator supports an asthma diagnosis?Answer: Improved airflow compared with the measurement before medication.
  3. Which finding signals a life-threatening asthma exacerbation requiring urgent emergency care?Answer: Lethargy or clouding of consciousness.
  4. Which finding is associated with T2-high asthma?Answer: Increased eosinophils or elevated fractional exhaled nitric oxide.
  5. Which medication is commonly used for rapid relief of asthma symptoms?Answer: A short-acting beta2 agonist, such as salbutamol.

Based on the Wikipedia article Asthma, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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