Physiology and Treatment of Asthma - Desklib

This essay analyses the physiological condition of asthma, its analogy and physiology among body systems, signs and symptoms, treatment and precautions to be taken to treat asthma.

ASTHMA

Table of Contents
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

Asthma refers to a long term condition which inflames the lungs that makes it difficult
for an individual to breathe. It is a disease that can occur among children and adults in several
forma at any time period (McCauley and et.al., 2019). It is a disease that cannot be completely
cures but only controlled. The present essay analysis the physiological condition of asthma. It
also analyses the analogy and physiology of asthma among the body systems of an individuals
and identifies the signs and symptoms of asthma. Also, it show the treatment and precautions to
be taken to treat asthma
Asthma is a condition where the airways are swollen and gets narrow and where there is
extra production of mucus. This triggers coughing and causes breathing problems in an
individual. There are various physiological conditions that are involved in the asthma that are as
follows:
 BRONCHOCONSTRICTION: In simple words it refers to narrowing the airways
which leads to a subsequent interference in the airflow (Boonpiyathad, Sözener and
Akdis, 2019). With the contraction of the bronchial muscles it results in quickly
narrowing the airways that in turn exposes the individual towards various stimuli that
includes several irritants and allergies. Also, this results in acute airflow obstruction.
 EDEMA AIRWAY: With the disease becoming more persistent it results in increasing
the inflammation more progressively that further limits the airflow. That is with the
development of mucus hyper secretion and inflammation and edema the physiological
condition of an individual having asthma is worsened and it majorly affects it breathing.
 IMMUNE SYSTEM IMBALANCE: One of the major physiological condition in
asthma is that there is imbalance in the immune system of the individual. That in turn
exposes the individuals towards the polarization of specific allergies (Dharmage and
Custovic, 2019). Thus, by making the immune system weak it makes the individual more
prone towards infections and makes the individual to become an immunocompromised.
 AFFECTS THE SLEEPING CYCLE: Another physiological condition related with the
asthma is the uneven sleeping cycle that affects the health of the individuals that is with
uneven sleeping cycles due to uneven breathing and narrow airway for smooth airflow. It

results in causing stress among the individual and with the sleep deprivation it makes the
individuals weak.
Thus, there are several physiological conditions that are related with asthma that affects
the health and well being of the individual. With these physiological condition it makes the
individuals weak as they are sleep deprived and with imbalance in their immune system it results
in making the individuals more exposed towards the allergies and infections. With the swollen
and narrow airways it becomes difficult for individual in breathing and causes problems
regarding breathing (Wechsler and et.al., 2021). Thus, with the obstruction in the airflow
movement it results in causing irritations and entering of infections. These inflammation in the
bronchial tubes in deed result in damaging the lungs of the individuals.
As it is known anyone with asthma, the airways of an individual are often inflamed and
swollen that makes it extra sensitive for the individuals to get exposed to the environment in their
day to day life and which triggers asthma more (Kuruvilla and Lee, 2019). This trigger could be
through the weather or a cold or other things such as chemical, dust, pet dander or smoke in the
environment. Thus when an individual breathe through this trigger, it makes the inside of the
airways more swollen. That is it makes the space even more narrower for the air to move inside
and outside the lungs. This in turn makes the muscles which are wrapped around the airways also
tighten that makes breathing much more hard. When this occurs, it is called as asthma flare up or
an asthma attack. However, it can be analysed that asthma affects the immune system of an
individual significantly when exposed to certain triggers. That is the immune system or more
specifically called as the abnormal response of the immune system are considered the heart of
the symptom associated with the respiratory system in link with asthma. That is when an
individual is exposed to certain triggers that is smoke or dust etc. the immune system of a body
overreacts and thus release chemicals that causes abnormal functioning of the lungs through
bloodstream.
The three main features that tends to characterised asthma attacks is firstly tightening the
bronchoconstriction which unables less air to pass in and out through the lungs. Secondly,
clogging of the air passages with the excessive production of mucus in the lungs (Choi and et.al.,
2021). And thirdly, the result of the abnormal immune responses that cause inflammation of the
air passage. Thus, all these physiological actions lead towards coughing, wheezing, shortening
breathing and chest tightening. The autonomic nervous system regulates the air passages of

normal size. It a nervous system branch that is responsible for all the reflexes. With the
stimulation of the nervous endings such as by cold air, dust or any other triggers these release or
instigates a chemical called as the acetylcholine. Thus, with the release of the acetylcholine it
causes bronchial spams that is over production of the mucus as these chemical acts on the cells in
the interior of the smooth muscles located in the lungs.
However, inflammation is the another factor that affects the immune systems of the
individuals. Inflammation in asthma is caused by a different process. That in individuals with
normal functioning of their immune system, antigen presenting cells meets the needs of any
foreign particle (ahran and et.al., 2018). These APC'S check whether these particles are safe or
not for the body system for smooth functioning or not. However, individuals with asthma, the
APC's in their system mistakenly identifies these particles as a threat and thus transform
themselves into a defensive cell, then it signals the immune system for defending itself and thus,
causes inflammations. Thus the consequences of this inflammation in the lungs leads towards
enlargement of cells, thickening of the walls and the hyperactivity of the airway tissues.
The signs and symptoms of asthma varies according to the severity and intensity of the
asthma and how much an individual is exposed to the environment and allergens. It is analysed
that some individuals have symptoms that are seen in their day to day life on the other hand,
some have symptoms that are seen rarely in a few days or in a year (Corren, and et.al., 2017).
Whereas, it is evaluated that is for some individual's asthma causes a certain discomfort but does
not interfere in their daily routines. However, individuals with severe asthma will hinder their
daily chaos and may limit their activities. But if the asthma is well controlled and precautions are
taken at every step then the individuals show few symptoms. When these symptoms worsen, an
individual may have what is called an asthma exacerbation or an asthma attack. With passing of
time, if these symptoms are not monitored, it can damaged the air passage in the lungs of an
individual. These signs and symptoms of asthma includes:
 Chest tightening.
 Shortness of breath
 Coughing
 Wheezing
These are the basic symptoms that are seen when an individual is dealing with asthma.
but it is not necessary that every person have the same symptoms. These symptoms can vary

according to the individuals that is different symptoms occurring at different times. It is analysed
that mild asthma attacks are more common in individuals that is within few minutes or few hours
the airways in the lungs open ups (McGregor and Castro, 2019). However, it is very important to
understand the early signs and symptoms of asthma that occurs before an asthma attack or at the
beginning of one. These symptoms are in general not that severe just enough that it can stop an
individual from its daily chaos. But with the recognition of these early symptoms it can help an
individual in stopping or preventing an asthma attack from getting worse. Early signals includes:
 Easily losing a breath.
 Frequent coughing at night.
 Feeling tired and weak while exercising
 Coughing and wheezing after exercising.
 Easily getting moody, grouchy or upset.
 Signs of allergies and a cold
 trouble sleeping
thus, it is very important that these signs and symptoms must not be avoided and and
necessary precaution must be taken so that the condition of an individual is not worsen and with
the knowledge of these signs at the correct stage it will help the individual in carrying out its
daily activities more efficiently and will not interfere in its daily life. Thus it is very important
that correct precautions and medications are taken so that an individuals can be protected against
the severe asthma attacks (Huang and et.al., 2019). It is considered that one of the best treatment
for asthma is by avoiding the triggers of asthma, but in certain cases it is not always reasonable
and possible. Therefore, medications are mainly prescribes so that these triggers could be averted
and thus managing the symptoms. There are certain options that are available to an individual for
preventing the asthma attack among these one of the most commonly used options is the oral and
inhaled steroids. That is with the help of these steroids it helps a patient in preventing the
symptoms by tamping down the responses of the immune system which in turns results in
reducing the inflammation that results in opening up the airways and passaged to enter the
airflow in the lungs. However these are the short term relief medicines that prevents relief
quickly and for a short period only during an asthma attack.
However, there are other treatments also that help in controlling and managing the
asthma that is through corticosteroids, biologic medications, leukotriene modifiers, mast cell

stabilizers, bronchodilators inhalation, immunotherapy etc. with the use of corticosteroids it will
help in reducing the inflammatory responses of the body but it may have a side effect that is a
hoarse voice or a mouth infection known as thrush. On the other hand, with the use of biologic
medicines like mepolizumab, benralizumab etc.(Mahdavinia and et.al., 2020) it will help in
targetting specific parts of the body to allergens. Whereas the use of mast cell stabilizers will
help in stopping specific immune cells in releasing signals that cause inflammation in the body.
Thus, it is very important to identify both the triggers of an asthma attack and the
medication that are required to prevent these triggers for achieving a durable control and
management of the asthma. Lifestyles intervention are also considered helpful in prevention of
asthma. Another factor that an individual should keep in mind if they are dealing with asthma is
to maintain a healthy weight that is one of the element in increased asthma is the obesity. That
with an individual dealing with obesity it becomes difficult to treat asthma and causes poor
control of asthma (Ferrante and La Grutta, 2018). Thus, it is very important that an individual
should regularly exercise as it has a positive effective and treating asthma that is yoga is a great
option as it helps in improving the quality of life of an individual and thus results in reducing
asthma. And most importantly, eating healthy and nutritious food is one of the most important
element in preventing the triggers of the asthma (Barnes, 2017). That eating the right amount of
fruits and vegetables with high fibre and antioxidants will improve the lung function which will
result in reducing the reactivity and inflammation of airway. Thus, helps in controlling asthma
From the present essay it can be concluded that asthma is a disease that causes blockage
in the air passage for passing the air into the lungs. It is disease that can occur in any age group.
The main symptoms of asthma are coughing and shortness of breath. Furthermore, it can be
summarised that appropriate precaution should be taken so that the triggers of asthma can be
prevented or controlled so that it does not have a severe effect on the daily chaos of an
individuals and do not hamper the daily lifestyle.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
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Boonpiyathad, T., Sözener, Z.C., and Akdis, C.A., 2019, December. Immunologic mechanisms
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COVID-19. European Respiratory Journal. 57(3).
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of Medicine. 377(10). pp.936-946.
Dharmage, S.C., Perret, J.L. and Custovic, A., 2019. Epidemiology of asthma in children and
adults. Frontiers in pediatrics. 7. p.246.
Ferrante, G. and La Grutta, S., 2018. The burden of pediatric asthma. Frontiers in pediatrics, 6,
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Kuruvilla, M.E., Lee, F.E.H. and Lee, G.B., 2019. Understanding asthma phenotypes, endotypes,
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Mahdavinia and et.al., 2020. Asthma prolongs intubation in COVID-19. The Journal of Allergy
and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. 8(7). pp.2388-2391.
McCauley and et.al., 2019. Distinct nasal airway bacterial microbiotas differentially relate to
exacerbation in pediatric patients with asthma. Journal of Allergy and Clinical
Immunology. 144(5). pp.1187-1197.
McGregor, M.C., Krings, J.G., and Castro, M., 2019. Role of biologics in asthma. American
journal of respiratory and critical care medicine. 199(4). pp.433-445.
Wechsler and et.al.,2021. Efficacy and Safety of Itepekimab in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe
Asthma. New England Journal of Medicine. 385(18). pp.1656-1668.

Zahran and et.al., 2018. Vital signs: asthma in children—United States, 2001–2016. Morbidity
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