ASTHMA

Group 4: Athina Cabase, Valerie Lariba, Venz Lipardo

Asthma is a disease of the branches of the windpipe (bronchial tubes), which carry air in and out of the lungs.
There are several different types of asthma.
During an asthma episode or "attack," there are three main changes that stop air from moving freely
into the airways:
 The bands of muscle that surround the airways tighten, causing them to narrow in what is called
"bronchospasm."
 The lining of the airways becomes swollen, or inflamed.
 The cells that line the airways produce more mucus, which is thicker than normal.
What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Asthma?
Symptoms of asthma strike when the airways undergo the three changes described above. Some people can go
a long time between asthma episodes while others have some symptoms every day. Common symptoms of
asthma include:
 Frequent cough,  Shortness of breath  Chest tightness, pain,
especially at night  Wheezing or pressure
What Are the Early Warning Signs of an Asthma Attack?
Early warning signs start before the more prominent symptoms of asthma and are the earliest signs that a
person's asthma is worsening. Early warning signs and symptoms of an asthma attack include:
=>Frequent cough, especially at night =>Decreases or changes in peak expiratory flow, a
=>Losing your breath easily or shortness of breath measurement of how fast air comes out of the
=>Feeling very tired or weak when exercising, in lungs when you exhale forcefully
addition to wheezing, coughing, or shortness of =>Signs of a cold or other upper respiratory
breath infections, or allergies
Difficulty sleepin
What Causes Asthma?
There are many kinds of asthma triggers.Common asthma triggers include:
 Infections: colds, flu, sinus infections
Exercise: very common in children*  Dust or items causing dust
 Weather: cold air, changes in temperature  Strong odors from chemical products
 Tobacco smoke and air pollution  Strong emotions: such as anxiety, and activities
 Allergens: substances that cause allergic like crying, yelling, or laughing hard
reactions in the lungs, including dust mites,  Medicines: including aspirin, ibuprofen, and beta
pollens, pets, mold spores, foods, and blocker drugs used to treat conditions including high
cockroaches blood pressure, migraines, or glaucoma.
 ALLERGIES
Group 4 :Valerie Lariba, Athina Cabase, Venz Lipardo
An allergy is an immune response or reaction to substances that are usually not harmful.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
In a person with allergies, the immune response is oversensitive. When it recognizes an allergen, the immune
system launches a response. Chemicals such as histamines are released. These chemicals cause allergy
symptoms.
Common allergens include:
 Drugs  Insect venom  Pet and other animal
 Dust  Mold dander
 Food  Pollen

Symptoms
The part of the body the allergen touches affects what symptoms you develop. For example:
 Allergens that you breathe in often cause a stuffy nose, itchy nose and throat, mucus production,
cough, and wheezing.  
 Allergens that touch the eyes may cause itchy, watery, red, swollen eyes.
 Eating something you are allergic to can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea,
or a severe, life-threatening reaction.
 Allergens that touch the skin can cause a skin rash, hives, itching, blisters, or skin peeling.
 Drug allergies usually involve the whole body and can lead to a variety of symptoms.
Signs and tests
Skin testing may be an option for some young children and infants.
 Blood tests can measure the levels of allergy-related substances, especially one called
immunoglobulin E (IgE).
 A complete blood count (CBC) called the eosinophil white blood cell count may also help diagnose
allergies.
Treatment
The best way to reduce symptoms is to avoid what causes your allergies. This is especially important for food
and drug allergies.
There are several types of medications to prevent and treat allergies. Which medicine your doctor recommends
depends on the type and severity of your symptoms, your age, and overall health.
Illnesses that are caused by allergies (such as asthma, hay fever, and eczema) may need other treatments.
Medications that can be used to treat allergies include:
ANTIHISTAMINES
Antihistamines are available over-the-counter and by prescription. They are available in many forms,
including:
How Is Asthma Diagnosed?
Tests may be given to check the general condition of your lungs, including:
 Chest X-ray in which a picture of the lungs is taken.
 Pulmonary function test (spirometry): A test that measures how well the lungs can take in air and
how well this air can be exhaled (lung function). Also measured is how efficiently the lungs can
transfer oxygen into the blood. The patient blows into a tube placed between the lips.
 Peak expiratory flow: A test that measures the maximum speed that air can be exhaled from the
lungs. The patient blows into a hand-held device called a peak flow meter.
 Methacholine challenge test: A test used to see if the airways are sensitive to methacholine, an
irritant that tightens the airways.
 Other tests, such as allergy tests, blood tests, sinus X-rays and other imaging scans, and
esophageal (throat) pH tests may also be ordered. These tests can help your doctor find out if other
conditions are affecting your asthma symptoms.
What Is the Treatment for Asthma?
By avoiding asthma triggers, taking medication, and carefully monitoring daily asthma symptoms, asthma
attacks can be avoided or at least limited. Proper use of medication is the basis of good asthma control. Drug
used to treat asthma include bronchodilators, anti-inflammatories, and leukotriene modifiers.
Bronchodilators to Treat Asthma
These drugs treat asthma by relaxing the muscle bands that tighten around the airways.
Bronchodilators also help clear mucus from the lungs. Bronchodilators relieve or stop asthma symptoms and
are very helpful during an asthma attack. The three main types of bronchodilators are beta2 agonists,
anticholinergics, and theophylline.
.
How Are Asthma Drugs Taken?
Many asthma drugs are taken using a device called a "metered dose inhaler", a small aerosol canister in a
plastic container that releases a burst of medication when pressed down from the top.
Several asthma drugs can also be taken as a powder inhaled through the mouth from a device called a dry
powder inhaler. Asthma drugs can also be taken as vapors, pills, liquids, and shots.
What Else Should I Do to Help Control My Asthma?
To control asthma, it's also important to keep track of how well lungs are functioning. Asthma symptoms are
monitored using a peak flow meter -- a device that measures the speed of air that coming out of the lungs when
you exhale forcefully. This measurement is called peak expiratory flow (PEF) and is calculated in liters per
minute.
Can Asthma Be Cured?
There's no cure for asthma, but it can be treated and controlled. In most cases, people with asthma can live free
of symptoms by following their treatment plan.
  Capsules and pills  Injection  Nasal spray
 Eye drops  Liquid

CORTICOSTEROIDS
Anti-inflammatory medications (corticosteroids) are available in many forms, including:
 Creams and ointment for the skin  Nasal spray
 Eye drops  Lung inhaler
Expectations (prognosis)
Most allergies can be easily treated with medication.
Some children may outgrow an allergy, especially food allergies. However, once a substance has triggered an
allergic reaction, it usually continues to affect the person.
Allergy shots are most effective when used to treat people with hay fever symptoms and severe insect sting
allergies. They are not used to treat food allergies because of the danger of a severe reaction.
Allergy shots may need years of treatment, but they work in most cases. However, they may cause
uncomfortable side effects (such as hives and rash) and dangerous outcomes (such as anaphylaxis).
Complications
 Anaphylaxis (life-  Breathing problems  Drowsiness and other
threatening allergic and discomfort side effects of
reaction) during the allergic medicines
reaction
Calling your health care provider
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if:
 Severe symptoms of allergy occur  Treatment for allergies no longer works
Prevention
Breastfeeding can help prevent or decrease allergies when you feed babies this way only for 4 to 6 months.
However, changing a mother's diet during pregnancy or while breastfeeding does not seem to help prevent
allergies.
For most children, changing the diet or using special formulas does not seem to prevent allergies. If a parent,
brother, sister, or other family member has a history of eczema and allergies, discuss feeding with your child's
doctor.
There is also evidence that being exposed to certain allergens (such as dust mites and cat dander) in the first
year of life may prevent some allergies. This is called the "hygiene hypothesis." It came from the observation
that infants on farms tend to have fewer allergies than those who grow up in more sterile environments.
However, older children do not seem to benefit.
Once allergies have developed, treating the allergies and carefully avoiding allergy triggers can prevent
reactions in the future.