Dr. V.V.R.

NARSIMHA REDDY PULMONOLOGIST, KAMINENI HOSPITAL, LBNAGAR HYDERABAD

 What Is Asthma? What Are The Causes of Asthma?

Who is At Risk For Asthma?

What Are The Signs And Symptoms of Asthma?

How Is Asthma Diagnosed?

How is Asthma Treated? Can Asthma Be Prevented? Living With Asthma

What Is Asthma? Asthma is a chronic disease that affects your airways. The
airways are the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, the inside walls of your airways are inflamed (swollen). The inflammation makes the airways very sensitive, and they tend to react strongly to things that you are allergic to or find irritating. When the airways react, they get narrower, and less air flows through to your lung tissue. This causes symptoms like wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), coughing, chest tightness, and trouble breathing, especially at night and in the early morning. Asthma cannot be cured, but most people with asthma can control it so that they have few and infrequent symptoms and can live active lives.

What Are The Causes of Asthma?

Genetic Predisposition

Triggers and Irritants

Copyright 2004, 3M Pharmaceuticals

Who is At Risk For Asthma?

Asthma is closely linked to allergies. Most, but not all,

people with asthma have allergies. Children with a family history of allergy and asthma are more likely to have asthma
Although asthma affects people of all ages, it most

often starts in childhood. More boys have asthma than girls, but in adulthood, more women have asthma than men

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Asthma?

Coughing : Coughing from asthma is often worse at

night or early in the morning, making it hard to sleep. Wheezing : Wheezing is a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe. Chest tightness : This can feel like something is squeezing or sitting on your chest. Shortness of breath : Some people say they can't catch their breath, or they feel breathless or out of breath. You may feel like you can't get enough air in or out of your lungs. Faster breathing or noisy breathing

How Is Asthma Diagnosed?

History Spirometry

Serial PEFR
Allergy Skin Testing Challenge Testing

Based on symptoms there are four levels of asthma severity

Mild intermittent
Mild persistent asthma Moderate persistent asthma

Severe persistent asthma

Exercise Induced Asthma

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What is exercise induced asthma (EIA)?

Symptoms begin due to aerobic activity that increases the heart and respiratory rate A narrowing of the airways caused by acute tightening of the muscles around the airways (bronchospasm) Distinct from allergic asthma in that it does not produce long-term increase in airway activity Can be avoided by taking pre-exercise medications and by warming up/cooling down
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EIA - What happens?

Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and fatigue Symptoms may begin during exercise and or up to 30 minutes after exercise EIA can spontaneously resolve 20 to 30 minutes after starting Symptoms can range from mild impairment to severe bronchospasm

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How Is Asthma Treated?

Controller medications

Keeps swelling and mucus from developing in the airways Must be taken EVERY day even when not having symptoms Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) are the most common and effective way to control asthma Help prevent asthma exacerbations from developing!

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Rescue / reliever medications

Rescue inhalers are typically Albuterol and Xopenex (levalbuterol) products Are taken when asthma symptoms are appearing (asthma episode) Work by relaxing the muscles surrounding the airways Are taken 10-15 minutes before strenuous exercise/activity by people with EIA Do NOT reduce or prevent swelling from developing in the lungs May be carried in school by a student only if approved by the doctor, school nurse and parent
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Typical Spacers/Holding Chambers

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How to know if treatment is proper

You should be free of asthma symptoms. You should have fewer attacks. You should need to use quick-relief medicines less

often. You should be able to do normal activities without having symptoms