Question

1) What is the molecular or cellular basis of Asthma

2) What are the risk factors for Asthma

3)How does this affect its function in humans (i.e. symptoms)?

4)What are the common outcomes/treatments for this disease?

5)Are there any ongoing research or anything else you found interesting about this disease?

Answer 1

1.Asthma is a disease that causes inflammation of the airways of the lungs. When a patient experience trigger like dust,common cold ,stress or smoke it causes the airways to swell .This narrows the space and muscles are tighten around the airways and patient have difficulty in breathing. Epithelial cells causes airway inflammation and excess mucus production in asthma.Smooth muscles cells contract excessively and cause airway narrowing in asthma.There are different types of asthma;1.bronchial asthma affecting bronchi in the lungs

2.Adult asthma

3.Childhood asthma

2.Risk factors for Asthma are:

1.Allergies:Patient who have allergic rhinitis or eczema have higher risk of getting asthma.

2.Viral Infections:Some viral infections can increase risk of asthma.

3.Family history: Asthma is seen in people who have a blood relative with asthma

4.Smoking: Smokers have a high risk of getting asthma.

5.Air pollution:People who are living in urban areas are at high risk of asthma

6.Obese people have high risk of getting asthma.

7.Environmental factors: People who are exposed to chemicals,cold temperatur,high humidity are at high risk of asthma.

3. The symptoms of asthma are:

1.Shortness of breath

2. Wheezing when exhaling

3. Coughing

4.Chest tightness

5.Patient has difficulty to sleep due to coughing or wheezing.

6 .Difficult breathing.

4.The treatment of asthma depends on symptoms ,patient age and the goal of the treatment is to keep asthma under control.Long term asthma control medications and short term medication is used to treat asthma.

Short-term asthma medication is used to provide relief for asthma attack.They are:

1.Short acting beta agonists like ventolin are inhaled bronchodilators which reduce symptoms of asthma attack.

2.Anticholinergic agents like ipratropium is used to relax airways .

3.Oral corticosteriods like prednisone are used to relieve inflammation caused by asthma.

Long term asthma control medications are:

1. Inhaled corticosteriods like pulmicort are used to control the symptoms of asthma.

2.Leukotriene modifers like singulair helps to relieve symptoms of asthma.

5.One of the latest research about asthma is done by scientist in university of Leicester and Glasgow that there is new treatment option for asthma.Free fatty acid receptor 4 is a protein found in our gut and pancreas.This protein can be activated by dietary fats.Free fatty acid receptors are found in lungs and by activating this receptors airway muscles can be relaxed and it can also reduce inflammation.Trials and researches are going on and let us hope for newer drug with less side effects.