| Asthma | | | | physical examination may be completely normal. |
| Asthma is a disease of chronic inflammatory airways, | | | | There are additional tests that may help physicians, |
| which results in reducing or even blocking the flow of | | | | among them are: chest X-rays, blood tests and skin |
| air. Its pathophysiology is related to interaction | | | | (to see if the patient is allergic) and spirometry to |
| between genetic and environmental factors that | | | | identify and quantify the obstruction to airflow. |
| manifest as attacks of breathlessness due to swelling | | | | Bronchial provocation test with pro-inflammatory |
| of the lining bronchial, the overproduction of mucus in | | | | substances, eg histamine, methacholine. |
| the airways and smooth muscle contraction of the | | | | Asthma patients can also take home a device that |
| airways, with consequent reduction of its diameter | | | | measures the peak flow of air is important to |
| (bronchospasm). | | | | monitor the course of the disease. Exacerbations of |
| Crises are characterized by various symptoms such | | | | asthma, peak flow is reduced. |
| as dyspnea, cough and wheezing, especially at night. | | | | Treatment Note: If you need help, consult a health |
| The narrowing of the airways is usually reversible but | | | | professional. The information contained herein does |
| in patients with chronic asthma, the inflammation can | | | | not have the character of advice. |
| determine airflow obstruction to airflow. Pathologic | | | | To treat asthma, a person must have some care for |
| features include the presence of inflammatory cells in | | | | the environment, especially in his home and at work, |
| the airways plasma exudation, edema, muscle | | | | in addition to using the medication and keep regular |
| hypertrophy, mucus plugs and desquamation of the | | | | appointments. Drugs can be divided into two classes: |
| epithelium. The diagnosis is mainly clinical and | | | | relief and maintenance. |
| treatment consists of educational measures, drugs | | | | Bronchodilators |
| that improve the airflow in asthma and | | | | Mainly used as medications for relief cut an asthma |
| anti-inflammatory, mainly based on steroids. | | | | attack. An inhaler typical bronchodilator. |
| Signs and symptoms | | | | The bronchodilator is a medicine, as its name says, it |
| Characteristically the disease, symptoms appear | | | | dilates the bronchi (airways) when asthma is out of |
| cyclically with periods of worsening. Among the main | | | | breath, wheezing or coughing. There bronchodilators |
| symptoms are: a cough that may or may not be | | | | called beta2-agonists - have a short effect and other |
| accompanied by some sputum (phlegm), shortness of | | | | effects prolonged (lasting up to 12h). The effect of |
| breath with pain or burning in the chest and a | | | | short often used as needed. If the person is well, |
| wheezing (wheezing). In most cases there is no | | | | without symptoms, do not need to use them. Now |
| sputum or have the type "egg". | | | | those of prolonged effects tend to be used |
| Symptoms can occur at any time of day, but tend | | | | continuously, every 12 hours, and are indicated for |
| to predominate in the morning or evening. Asthma is | | | | specific cases of asthma. In addition to |
| the leading cause of chronic cough in children and is | | | | beta2-agonists, other bronchodilators such as |
| among the leading causes of chronic cough in adults. | | | | anticholinergics theophyllines and may be used. |
| Classification | | | | Anti-Inflammatory |
| According to the standards of the crises and tests, | | | | Used mainly to avoid and prevent crises |
| asthma can be classified in: Intermittent asthma, mild | | | | (maintenance). |
| persistent asthma, moderate persistent asthma, | | | | The inhaled corticosteroids are currently the best |
| severe persistent asthma. | | | | approach to combat inflammation and are used in |
| Intermittent Asthma: symptoms less than once a | | | | almost all asthmatics. Are not only used by patients |
| week; bouts of short duration (light); sporadic | | | | with mild intermittent asthma (which have sporadic |
| nocturnal symptoms (no more than twice a month); | | | | symptoms). Such drugs are used in order to prevent |
| pulmonary function tests normal in the period | | | | exacerbations of the disease or at least minimize |
| between attacks. | | | | them and increase disease-free survival between one |
| Mild persistent asthma: symptoms at least once a | | | | crisis and another. Anti-inflammatory drugs should be |
| week, but less than once a day; presence of | | | | used continuously (every day), since that fight |
| nocturnal symptoms more than twice a month, but | | | | chronic inflammation of the bronchial mucosa, which is |
| less than once a week; pulmonary function tests | | | | the substrate for subsequent events. |
| normal in the period between attacks. | | | | There are other treatment options, such as cromolyn |
| Moderate Persistent Asthma: daily symptoms; crises | | | | sodium (commonly used in small children), the |
| can affect daily activities and sleep; presence of | | | | nedocromil, ketotifen and leukotrienes. The latter is |
| nocturnal symptoms at least once a week; pulmonary | | | | relatively new and can be used in specific cases of |
| function tests: peak expiratory flow (PEF) or forced | | | | asthma or associated with steroids. |
| expiratory volume in one second (FEV ¹)> | | | | Both bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs can |
| 60% and 60% of expected | | | | be used in several ways: by nebulization dose inhaler ( |
| Diagnosis | | | | "spray" or "puffer") dry powder inhalers (via |
| The diagnosis is made based on signs and symptoms | | | | Turbuhaler, Rotahaler, Diskhaler or capsules for |
| that occur repetitively and are referred to by the | | | | inhalation) -> are different (and practical) devices |
| patient. On physical examination, the doctor may find | | | | for inhalation; compressed; syrup. |
| wheezing in the lungs, especially in exacerbation of | | | | Physicians prefer the use of medications for |
| the disease. However, not all wheezing is due to | | | | nebulization, metered dose inhaler or dry powder of |
| asthma, may also be caused by other diseases. | | | | being more effective and cause fewer side effects. |
| However, in individuals who are out of crisis, the | | | | |