Pathophysiology of Asthma: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

This presentation provides an overview of the pathophysiology of asthma, including the causes, symptoms, and management. It explains how bronchial smooth muscle contraction and increased mucus production contribute to the narrowing of airways. Clinical manifestations such as wheezing and dyspnea are discussed. The role of Salbutamol in relaxing the airways is explained, along with educational advice on using inhalers and maintaining proper hygiene. References are provided for further reading.

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VODCAST

Client details
 Name: Philip Nguyen
 Gender: Male
 Age: 15 years
 Condition: Asthma
 Healthy weight: Yes
 Exercise: Wishes he would play more sport
 Occupation: Student
 Living status: stays with parents and two younger sisters
 Family medical history: Nothing relevant
 Pregnancy: NA
 Smoking: Tried smoking few times
 Alcohol intake: N/A
 Current medication: Salbutamol

Pathological changes-Bronchial
smooth muscle contraction
 Triggering factors such as
cigarette smoke, dust and pollen
grains reach the
airways(Rogliani, Ora, Puxeddu,
& Cazzola, 2016).
 They then bind to mast cells.
 The mast cells disintegrate to
produce mediators basically
histamine.
 Histamine then stimulates
contraction of the smooth
muscles making the airways to
become narrow(Sullivan, Hunt,
MacSharry, & Murphy, 2016).
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Increased mucus
production
 Contraction of smooth muscles and narrow
airways leads to swelling of the mucus lining.
 Inflammation leads to production of cytokines that
stimulate production of mucus(King, James,
Harkness, & Wark, 2018).

Clinical manifestation-
wheezing (Group A )
 Airways in the lungs become narrow and
constricted.
 It becomes difficult for someone to breathe.
 This produce a whistling (Wheezing) during
breathing in asthmatic people(King, Farrow, &
Chapman, 2019).
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Clinical manifestation-
Dyspnea (Group B)
 Triggers cause congestion
 Increased mucous
 Narrowing of the airways.
 Eventually, the patient experience dyspnea since
air doe not flow easily in the narrowed and
congested airways(King, Farrow, & Chapman,
2019).
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Management of asthma-
Salbutamol
 Is a short acting beta 2 agonist(Gosens & Gross,
2018).
 Stimulates receptors in lungs(beta 2 receptors)
 Muscles in the airways relax and allows airways to
open.
 It therefore becomes easier for my patient to
breathe.

Systemic and topical
action of Salbutamol
 Topically, salbutamol acts directly on the
bronchiole smooth muscles.
 2-3 hours after inhalation, the drug can be
detected in blood and starts to act systemically in
the lungs and the systemic circulation(Ohta,
2016).

Educational advice
 Explain the side effects to the patient.
 Educate the patient to rinse the mouth always
after using the drug
 Educate the patient on the importance of carrying
the puffer always
 Educate the patient to clean the puffer on a
weekly basis
 Educate the patient how to correctly use the
inhaler
 Take the prescribed dose

conclusion
 Asthma is a chronic condition affecting airways.
 It happens in individuals whose airways are
sensitive to different allergens like pollen grains
and other chemicals.
 They cause contraction and inflammation of
smooth walls of bronchioles leading to excessive
mucus that makes it difficult to breath.
 Clinical manifestations include wheezing,
dyspnea, coughs.
 Management is through salbutamol.

 References
Gosens, R., & Gross, N. (2018). The mode of action of anticholinergics in
asthma. European Respiratory Journal, 52(4), 1701247.
doi:10.1183/13993003.01247-2017
King, G. G., Farrow, C. E., & Chapman, D. G. (2019). Dismantling the
pathophysiology of asthma using imaging. European Respiratory Review,
28(152), 180111. doi:10.1183/16000617.0111-2018
King, G. G., James, A., Harkness, L., & Wark, P. A. (2018). Pathophysiology
of severe asthma: We’ve only just started. Respirology, 23(3), 262-271.
doi:10.1111/resp.13251
Ohta, K. (2006). Faculty of 1000 evaluation for Modulation of airway
remodeling and airway inflammation by peroxisome proliferator-activated
receptor gamma in a murine model of toluene diisocyanate-induced
asthma. F1000 - Post-publication peer review of the biomedical literature.
doi:10.3410/f.1047617.497597
Rogliani, P., Ora, J., Puxeddu, E., & Cazzola, M. (2016). Airflow obstruction:
is it asthma or is it COPD? International Journal of Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease, Volume 11, 3007-3013. doi:10.2147/copd.s54927
Sullivan, A., Hunt, E., MacSharry, J., & Murphy, D. M. (2016). The
Microbiome and the Pathophysiology of Asthma. Respiratory Research,
17(1). doi:10.1186/s12931-016-0479-4