asthma

(noun)

A long-term respiratory condition, marked by airway obstruction from bronchospams. It is often in response to an allergen, cold air, exercise, or emotional stress. 

Related Terms

(noun)

A long-term respiratory condition, in which the airways may unexpectedly and suddenly narrow, often in response to an allergen, cold air, exercise, or emotional stress. Symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing.

Related Terms

Examples of asthma in the following topics:

  • Asthma

    • The prevalence of asthma has been rising steadily since the early 1980s.
    • In contrast to emphysema, asthma affects the bronchi, not the alveoli.
    • An acute asthma exacerbation is commonly referred to as an asthma attack .
    • Asthma is caused by environmental and genetic factors.
    • Spirometry is needed to establish a diagnosis of asthma.

  • Adjustments During Exercise

    • Exercise induced asthma is another common complication from too much exercise.
    • Normally asthma is caused by an allergic response within the lungs, but exercise can induce a similar response from too much intake of dry and cold air during the increased respiratory rate from exercise.
    • The air in the lungs is meant to be moistened and humidified before entering the lungs, but if it is not adequately treated in the upper airways, it can induce bronchospams in the brionchioles, which cause the wheezing and coughing that occurs during an asthma attacks.
    • Asthma treatments (such as medicines from an inhaler) can help prevent exercise-induced asthma, though it is only a particular risk in those who already have allergic asthma, or who simply exercise at too much intensity for what their body is capable of handling.

  • Lung Capacity and Volume

    • An FEV1/FVC ration of <70% indicates an obstructive lung disease like asthma or COPD.
    • Those with asthma, an acute form obstructive lung disease, will show a low FEV1/FVC ratio during an asthma attack, which returns to normal after the attack is over.
    • Therefore to diagnose asthma, many clinicians expose patients to methacholine or histamine to trigger mild asthma attacks to measure FEV1/FVC ratios.

  • Hypersensitivity

    • Associated disorders: Atopy, anaphylaxis, asthma.

  • Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation: Airway Resistance

    • Airway resistance can change over time, especially during an asthma attack when the airways constricts causing an increase in airway resistance.
    • For example, in asthma attacks the bronchioles spasm and constrict, which increases resistance.

  • Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

    • Other dangers of NSAIDs are exacerbating asthma and causing kidney damage.

  • Allergies

    • Allergies can play a major role in conditions such as asthma.

  • Acidosis

    • Pneumothorax, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, severe pneumonia, and aspiration are among the most frequent causes.

  • Chemical Composition of Bone

    • ., myasthenia gravis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Guillain-BarrĂ© syndrome, muscular dystrophy), or airway obstruction related to asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation.

  • Laryngitis and Cancer of the Larynx

    • It is caused by acid reflux disease, allergies, bacterial or fungal infection, excessive coughing, smoking, or alcohol consumption, inflammation due to overuse of the vocal cords, use of inhaled corticosteroids for asthma treatment, or viral infection.