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Asthma
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a disorder defined by its clinical, physiological, and pathological characteristics.
Physiological features
The main physiological feature of asthma is episodic airway obstruction characterized by expiratory airflow limitation. The dominant pathological feature is airway inflammation, sometimes associated with airway structural changes.
Pharmacologic management
Pharmacologic management of asthma aims to control symptoms, prevent exacerbations and provide the best possible pulmonary function with minimal medications, side effects and risk factors.
During exacerbations, the patient will often have wheeze and reduced lung function, either reduced peak flow or an obstructive pattern on spirometry.
Two major areas of potential improvement of asthma. Inadequate ICS use is one of the major factors that impact the failure of long-term management. Also, following a general trend throughout the world, a more practical, symptom-based approach to diagnosis is warranted at the primary care level.
There is now good evidence that the clinical manifestations of asthma—symptoms, sleep disturbances, limitations of daily activity, impairment of lung function, and use of rescue medications—can be controlled with appropriate treatment.
Useful links:
- Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA)
Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention. - Learn to live with asthma
Find more information about coping with asthma related problems. - Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD)
GARD is a voluntary alliance of national and international organizations, institutions, and agencies committed towards the common goal to improve global lung health.
Source: EPG guide- www.epgonline.org/asthma.cfm
Last Updated 27-05-2010