What are the mechanisms of asthma?

What are the mechanisms of asthma?

Airway hyperresponsiveness, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness are characteristic features of asthma. Research has focused on mechanisms of airway inflammation, regulation of these processes, and translation of these events into altered lung function.

What is the main pathology abnormality of asthma?

Pathophysiology of asthma consists of three key abnormalities: bronchoconstriction, airway inflammation, and mucous impaction.

What is considered chronic asthma?

Asthma is a chronic (long-term) condition that affects the airways in the lungs. The airways are tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, the airways can become inflamed and narrowed at times. Asthma affects people of all ages and often starts during childhood.

What is the mechanism of obstruction for asthma?

Multiple mechanisms of airflow obstruction in asthma, including bronchoconstriction by airway muscle, obstruction of airflow by intraluminal mucus, and inflammation and remodeling of the airway wall.

What is the pathophysiology and pathogenesis of asthma?

Pathophysiology and Pathogenesis of Asthma Airflow limitation in asthma is recurrent and caused by a variety of changes in the airway. These include: \Bronchoconstriction. In asthma, the dominant physiological event leading to clinical symptoms is airway narrowing and a subsequent interference with airflow.

What happens to the airways when you have asthma?

People with asthma have sensitive airways in their lungs which react to triggers, causing a ‘flare-up’. In a flare-up, the muscles around the airways squeeze tight, the airways swell and become narrow and there is more mucus. These changes make it harder to breathe.

How are mast cells and eosinophils involved in asthma?

The activated mast cells and eosinophils also generate their cytokines that help to perpetuate the inflammation. Regardless of the triggers of asthma, the repeated cycles of inflammation in the lungs with injury to the pulmonary tissues followed by repair may produce long-term structural changes (“remodeling”) of the airways.

Which is the best description of the disease asthma?

Asthma is best described as a chronic disease that involves inflammation of the pulmonary airways and bronchial hyperresponsiveness that results in the clinical expression of a lower airway obstruction that usually is reversible.