Semester 2, 2019: BIOL122 Asthma Case Study Analysis

This case study focuses on Elisa Carter, a 62-year-old woman diagnosed with asthma. The assignment delves into the patient's history, including smoking and weight, which are identified as risk factors. It explores the pathophysiology of asthma, detailing the structural and inflammatory changes in the airways that lead to obstruction and mucus production. The case highlights the symptoms of asthma, such as shortness of breath and chest tightness, and discusses the prescribed medication, salbutamol, a bronchodilator used to alleviate asthma attacks. The mechanism of action of salbutamol is explained, emphasizing its role in relaxing airway muscles. The importance of patient education regarding medication adherence and lifestyle modifications, including physical activity and avoiding asthma triggers, is emphasized to manage the condition effectively and prevent future complications. The case study provides an overview of asthma diagnosis, treatment, and patient management strategies.

Running head: ASTHMA
ASTHMA
Name of Student:
Name of University:
Author’s Note:

1ASTHMA
Asthma is demarcated as a chronic illness in which the airflow to the lungs gets
obstructed due to inflammation. This discussion revolves around the case study of Elisa Carter
who is a 62 year old women suffering from breathing complications. After conducting proper
diagnosis of the Patient, it can be stated that the patient is suffering from asthma. The patient is a
retired librarian and lives with her husband. The weight of the Patient is recorded to be 180 lbs
and hence is over-weight. The patient has a history of smoking for past 10 years. By interviewing
the patient, it is observed that the patient has been prescribed to intake sambutamol for the
management of her asthmatic condition.
It is observed that during asthma the airway walls of the patient undergoes structural and
inflammatory change which causes the bronchial smooth muscle of the lungs gets contracted and
tends to increase the production of the mucus. This secreted mucus is supposed to be the primary
cause for the recurrent obstruction of the airflow route. By observing the case study of Elisa, it
has been observed that the risk factor observed in case of Elisa which leads to the structural
change in the airflow passage is her previous smoking history.
When an individual inhales the smoke of tobacco, the irritating substance of the tobacco
settle down in the moist lining of the airway, which might lead to asthmatic attack in the
individual suffering from asthma.
Apart from that, smoking also damages the tiny hair like structure of the airways termed
as cilia and also tends to produce more mucus from the lungs as compared to the normal
individual.
In case of asthma, several mediators such as cytokines leads to the activation of different
inflammatory cells such as T cells and mast cells. Activation of the inflammatory cells is

2ASTHMA
responsible for the contraction of the smooth muscle of the bronchioles which tends to narrow
the airway leading to cough and short ness of breathing.
After conducting the proper diagnosis of the patient with the aid of physical exam where
the air movement of the lungs is assessed, it is observed that the patient is suffering from asthma.
The primary risk factor observed in the case of Elisa which is responsible for asthma is her
weight and smoking history. Symptoms of asthma observed in the case of Elisa includes,
shortness of breathing, pain, chest tightness, insomnia, wheezing or severe wheezing or coughing
attack.
As stated above, the patient is prescribed with salbutamol, which is one of the most
common medication used in case of individual suffering from asthma. salbutamol is
characterized as bronchodilator which is responsible to provide relief' from the severe attack of
asthma in patient. In the case of asthma as stated above, the flow of air gets obstructed due to the
loss of functionality of the receptors. However when the patient is administered with salbutamol,
it binds to the beta 1 and 2 adrenoreceptor and resulted to activation of the same receptors which
aims to enhance the airflow obstruction to the lungs.
As activation of the receptor leads to the activation of the adenine cyclase and cyclic
AMP which in turn leads to relaxation of the smooth muscle of the airway passage and hence
tends to reduce the chronic symptoms observed during the asthma attack such as, coughing,
tightening of chest muscles and shortness of breathing. Salbutamol is administered either orally,
intravenously or most commonly by the aid of inhalation. This medication not only provide relief
to shortness of breathing observed in the Patient, but also tends to provide relief from the other
chronic symptoms. When the person is administered with salbutamol, a part of the drug gets
absorbed by the lining of the lungs whereas, other part of the drugs gets delivered to the

3ASTHMA
gastrointestinal tract and circulatory system to deliver overall benefit to the body. As in the case
study it is observed that the patient sometimes tends to skip the administration of the medication,
the patient must be educated about the benefits of the medication and should also be educated
about the consequences if it is avoided or ignored.
As observed from the discussion that the patient sometimes skips her medication and is
also overweight, which might create future complications therefore it is necessary to educate the
patient about the risks of asthma and should also be educated about the self-management
strategies such as involvement in physical activity, avoiding asthma triggers, monitor the
breathing rate at regular intervals, taking drugs as prescribed. Involvement in physics activity
will also help the Patient to manage her weight along the management of asthma which is one of
the primary risk factor responsible for the occurrence of asthma.