Pathophysiology of Asthma - Essay
Exam Case Scenario
Pathophysiology of Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by episodes in which the bronchioles constrict due to oversensitivity. In asthma, the airways (bronchioles) constrict making it difficult to get air in or out of the lungs. Breathlessness is the main symptom. The bronchi and bronchioles become inflamed and constricted. Asthmatics usually react to triggers. Triggers are substances and situations that would not normally trouble an asthma free person. Asthma is either extrinsic or intrinsic. Extrinsic is when the inflammation in the airway is a result of hypersensitivity reactions associated with allergy (food or pollen). Intrinsic asthma is linked to hyper responsive reactions to other forms of stimuli like infection. Or they can have a combination of both.
The bronchi and bronchioles contain smooth muscle and are lined with mucus-secreting glands (goblet cells) and ciliated cells (push the mucus towards the throat). Next to the airways blood supply there are lots of mast cells. Once they become stimulated the mast cells release a number of cytokines (chemical messengers), which cause physiological changes to the lining of the bronchi and bronchioles. Three such protein cytokines are histamine, kinins and prostaglandins (leukotrienes) which cause smooth muscle contraction, increased mucus production and capillary permeability. The airways soon narrow and become flooded with mucus and fluid leaking from the blood vessels. Airflow becomes obstructed resulting in a wheeze. As the airways become obstructed the patient will become fatigue and their respiratory effort becomes weak and inadequate causing hypoxaemia and hypercapnia.
Airway – Assess the airway. If the patient is talking this means they have a patent (clear) airway therefore they are breathing and have brain perfusion. Look and listen for signs of airway obstruction. A partial obstruction is often noisy, and in complete airway obstruction there are no breath
Pathophysiology of Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by episodes in which the bronchioles constrict due to oversensitivity. In asthma, the airways (bronchioles) constrict making it difficult to get air in or out of the lungs. Breathlessness is the main symptom. The bronchi and bronchioles become inflamed and constricted. Asthmatics usually react to triggers. Triggers are substances and situations that would not normally trouble an asthma free person. Asthma is either extrinsic or intrinsic. Extrinsic is when the inflammation in the airway is a result of hypersensitivity reactions associated with allergy (food or pollen). Intrinsic asthma is linked to hyper responsive reactions to other forms of stimuli like infection. Or they can have a combination of both.
The bronchi and bronchioles contain smooth muscle and are lined with mucus-secreting glands (goblet cells) and ciliated cells (push the mucus towards the throat). Next to the airways blood supply there are lots of mast cells. Once they become stimulated the mast cells release a number of cytokines (chemical messengers), which cause physiological changes to the lining of the bronchi and bronchioles. Three such protein cytokines are histamine, kinins and prostaglandins (leukotrienes) which cause smooth muscle contraction, increased mucus production and capillary permeability. The airways soon narrow and become flooded with mucus and fluid leaking from the blood vessels. Airflow becomes obstructed resulting in a wheeze. As the airways become obstructed the patient will become fatigue and their respiratory effort becomes weak and inadequate causing hypoxaemia and hypercapnia.
Airway – Assess the airway. If the patient is talking this means they have a patent (clear) airway therefore they are breathing and have brain perfusion. Look and listen for signs of airway obstruction. A partial obstruction is often noisy, and in complete airway obstruction there are no breath