Understanding the facts about asthma pathophysiology will help you get the answers to those questions and more. But first, let's look at that word, "pathophysiology" to make sure you know what we're talking about here. If we break it down, we have 2 parts:
- Patho- which roughly translates to something wrong or abnormal
- -Physiology This means the study of how the body works
So, putting those 2 parts back together, pathophysiology technically means the study of abnormal body function. However, the term is commonly (though technically incorrectly) used to mean just abnormal body function. That's how we'll be using it for the rest of this article too.
So, in looking at the pathophysiology of asthma for this article, we're looking at what goes wrong with how the body works when you have asthma. Specifically, we're talking about what goes wrong in your airways, which includes your bronchial tubes, lungs, and small air sacs called alveoli.
To put it in a nutshell, what goes wrong with the airways in people with asthma is based on abnormal reactions by your immune system to substances that are perfectly harmless in people who do not have asthma.
Learn More:
What Happens When Asthma Airways Don't Work Right
You might call this the aftereffects of the pathophysiology of asthma. In people with asthma, there can be both temporary and permanent changes in the airways. This results in what are known as the signs and symptoms of asthma. The main ones are:
- Chronic coughing, especially at night
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- Shortness of breath
The good news is that with proper treatment, the progression of asthma pathophysiology can often be stopped in its tracks, or at least greatly minimized. But sometimes it isn't. This might happen when asthma medicine is prescribed but you don't take it often enough, consistently enough, or you're not getting a large enough dose to achieve true asthma control. Asthma control is defined primarily by a lack of asthma symptoms.
Another time that it might be hard to prevent a worsening of the the effects of the pathophysiology of asthma with traditional asthma treatments is when you have severe persistent asthma. With asthma this severe, achieving control can be extremely challenging, and there may be many ups and downs in control on a day to day basis.
When asthma control is not consistently achieved, then there can be permanent damage to the airways, which can make breathing even worse. This permanent damage is called "airway remodeling," and is the most extreme example of asthma pathophysiology.
Learn More:
Preventing the Effects of Asthma Pathophysiology From Progressing
Preventing asthma is a hard thing to do, especially if you have a strong family tendency towards allergy and asthma. Genetics is certainly a risk factor for developing asthma, but there are others as well, including exposure to cigarette smoke and other allergens at a young age, living in an urban environment, and other health conditions.
We can't really control our genetic background, but parents can reduce risk for their children by not smoking around them, not living in urban areas, and reducing the number of allergens in the home. All of these factor may prevent asthma from taking a foothold in the first place. And, if asthma symptoms do develop, then an early diagnosis and treatment is essential in preventing long-term airway damage.
Once asthma is diagnosed, a solid asthma management plan that includes both a controller medicine and an emergency quick-relief asthma inhaler – and knowing how to use them – can help reduce the impact asthma has on our body.
Learn More:
- Asthma Risk Factors
- Asthma Causes FAQs
- Asthma Symptoms
- How Asthma Is Diagnosed
- Asthma Management = Asthma Control
- Asthma Treatment Overview
In Summary
The pathophysiology of asthma results from your oversensitive immune system trying to protect you from perceived threats. But the result is actually inflamed airways and bothersome symptoms that make it harder to breathe. People with asthma DO have some control over asthma pathophysiology, though. With effective, consistent treatment and avoidance of risks and known asthma triggers, you can still live a life without limits.
Learn More:
Source:
"Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma." NHLBI Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Asthma. 28 Aug 2007. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. 18 Dec. 2007 <http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthgdln.pdf>
