Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by inflammation of the airways and difficulty breathing. It is classified based on symptom frequency and can be triggered by environmental factors like air pollution, allergens, and certain substances. Common symptoms include coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. While asthma has no cure, it can be controlled through avoiding triggers, reducing exposure to triggers, and using medication. Proper management is important to prevent worsening symptoms and limit impact on daily life.

1. Name: cyko shgu
Topic : Asthma
Submited to: chemist
Asthma

2. Overview
 Asthma – What is it?
 Classification of asthma
 Symptoms of asthma
 Causes
 What substances trigger asthma?
 Can asthma be cured?
 What YOU can do if you have asthma

3. Asthma – What is It?
 Asthma is a chronic lung
disease that obstructs
airflow
 The obstruction is
reversible
 It involves difficulty in
breathing due to
– Inflammation (swelling)
– Mucus in the airways
– Tightening of muscles around
the airways

5. Classification
 Asthma is clinically classified according to the frequency of
symptoms:
– Brittle asthma
– Asthma attack
– Status asthmaticus
– Exercise induced
– Occupational

6. Brittle asthma
 Brittle asthma is a term used to describe two types of
asthma, distinguishable by recurrent, severe attacks.
 Type 1 brittle asthma refers to disease with wide peak
flow variability, despite intense medication.
 Type 2 brittle asthma describes background well-
controlled asthma, with sudden severe exacerbations.

7. Asthma attack
 An acute asthma exacerbation is commonly referred to as
an asthma attack.
 The classic symptoms are shortness of breath, wheezing,
and chest tightness.
 While these are the primary symptoms of asthma, some
people present primarily with coughing, and in severe
cases, air motion may be significantly impaired such that
no wheezing is heard.

8. Asthma attack
 Signs which occur during an asthma attack include the use
of accessory muscles of respiration.
 there may be a paradoxical pulse (a pulse that is weaker
during inhalation and stronger during exhalation), and
over-inflation of the chest.
 Blue color of the skin and nails may occur from lack of
oxygen.

9. Status asthmaticus
 Status asthmaticus is an acute exacerbation of asthma that
does not respond to standard treatments of
bronchodilators and steroids.
 Nonselective beta blockers (such as Timolol) have caused
fatal status asthmaticus.

10. Exercise induced
 Here appears to be a relatively high incidence of asthma in
sports such as cycling, mountain biking, and long-
distance running, and a relatively lower incidence in
weightlifting and diving.
 It is unclear how much of these disparities are from the
effects of training in the sport.

11. Occupational
 Asthma as a result of (or worsened by) workplace
exposures is a commonly reported occupational
respiratory disease.
 Animal proteins, enzymes, flour, natural rubber latex, and
certain reactive chemicals are commonly associated with
work-related asthma.
 When recognized, these hazards can be mitigated,
dropping the risk of disease.

12. Symptoms

13. Symptoms of asthma
Common symptoms of asthma include:
Coughing
Wheezing, a whistling sound
Shortness of breath
Chest tightness
Sneezing & runny nose
Itchy and inflamed eyes

14. Symptoms of asthma
 Symptoms are often worse at night or in the early
morning, or in response to exercise or cold air.
 Some people with asthma only rarely experience
symptoms, usually in response to triggers,
whereas other may have marked persistent
airflow obstruction.

15. Causes

16. Causes (Environmental factors)
Asthma is mainly caused by environmental
factors.
Maternal tobacco smoking during pregnancy
and after delivery is associated with a greater
risk of asthma-like symptoms, wheezing, and
respiratory infections during childhood.

17. Causes (Environmental factors)
 Low air quality, from traffic pollution or
high ozone levels, has been repeatedly
associated with increased asthma morbidity.
 Recent studies show a relationship between
exposure to air pollutants (e.g. from traffic)
and childhood asthma.

18. Causes (Environmental factors)
 The occurrence of the disease and
exacerbation of childhood asthma are affected
by outdoor air pollutants.

19. Causes (Genetic factors)
 Over 100 genes have been associated with
asthma.
 But studies indicates that all these genes are
not associated with asthma under every
condition
 Some genetic variants may only cause asthma
when they are combined with specific
environmental exposures, and otherwise may
not be risk factors for asthma

20. What substances trigger asthma?
Type of Substance Examples
Air pollutants, including dusts,
smoke, mists & fumes
Diesel exhaust; tobacco smoke;
mineral, rock, coal, & wood dusts;
gases; fumes & vapors from aerosol
agents, chemicals, cleaning materials,
solvents, paints, welding & from heating
& cooling metals quickly
Pollens, mites & molds Trees, flowers, weeds, hay, plants
Animal dander Birds, cats, dogs
Medications Aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs
Foods Egg, wheat, nuts

21. Can asthma be cured?
 Asthma can be controlled (but not cured) by:
– Avoiding triggers or reducing exposure to triggers
– Using medication to control symptoms
 Medications - generally two types are used
– Controller or long-term drugs
• Taken to prevent excess production of mucus & to reduce
the inflammation and constriction of airway muscles
– Rescue or quick-relief drugs
• Taken to relax muscles around the airways to improve
breathing

22. Poorly controlled asthma leads to:
Increased visits to
– Doctor, Urgent Care
Clinic or Hospital
 Hospitalizations
 Limitations in daily
activities
 Lower quality of life

23. What YOU can do if you have asthma?
 Identify and minimize contact with your asthma
trigger(s)
 Understand and take asthma medications as
prescribed
 Recognize early signs that your asthma is getting
worse

24. Enjoy life