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Asthma. www.networlddirectory.com/.../asthma.html. Definition. “Asthma is a chronic condition of the airways of your lungs, and it has two main components – constriction, the tightening of the muscles surrounding the airways, and inflammation, the swelling, and irritation of the airways.”.
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Asthma www.networlddirectory.com/.../asthma.html
Definition • “Asthma is a chronic condition of the airways of your lungs, and it has two main components – constriction, the tightening of the muscles surrounding the airways, and inflammation, the swelling, and irritation of the airways.” http://www.shef.ac.uk/janedavidson/breathing.jpeg www.lawrencehallofscience.org
www2.hanover.edu library.thinkquest.org/.../scroll.htm History • Around for 2000 years! • 25 B.C. Medical writer recorded the “whistling sound” • century later: Greek doctor distinguished two common symptoms (hard to breathe, cough) • “asthma” = Greek verb meaning “to pant or breathe hard” asthma.upmc.com/
Symptoms: COMMON SYMPTOMS INCLUDE: • Chest tightness • Wheezing • Hard to breathe • Coughing MORE SERIOUS SYMPTOMS: • Rapid breathing and pulse • Excessive sweating • Tingling in fingers/legs www.cdc.gov/.../albanian_eng.htm www.kidzworld.com/site/p680.htm
What happens during an AsthmaAttack? • Airways overreact to a trigger • Bronchial tubes tighten • Lining swells/inflames • Excess mucus in throat • Narrowed/clogged airways • ‘status asthmaticus’ = severe episode
Causes or “TRIGGERS” for an attack: • Allergies • Exercise • Weather • Fatigue • Mental stress • Violent chest movement (ie. Laughing or coughing) • Smoking while pregnant (babies are infected) www.brist.plus.com/exerbasic.htm www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s126225.htm
profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user... www.leica-geosystems.com/.../lgs_8867.htm www.babyminestore.com/toddlerpajamas.html Who does it affect? • Most commonly: children (by 5yrs.), adults (30s & older than 65), people living in urban areas • 7% to 15% of kids 3 – 6 years • Starts early as 6 months • 1 in 3 children cannot perform regular daily activities normally
www.msc.cc.ok.us/student/immun.html Diagnosis • Pulmonary functioning test • Challenge test • Personal/family history • Spirometry • Peak flow monitoring (PFM) • Chest x-rays • Blood tests • Allergy tests www.raisingkids.co.uk/preg/preg_test02.asp PFM prestonhunt.com/hd/ www.yafferuden.com/html/chest_x-rays.html
www.wecare4lungs.com/eia.htm www.abc.net.au/quantum/scripts99/9905/rundown.htm Treatment • Inhalers • Cromolyn sodium • Corticosteroids • Steroid shots • Regular medication (ie. Beta-agonists) www.dhcc.ae/Admin/Content/Images/asthma.gif
www.smokefreezone.org ~Future of Asthma~ • Currently cannot be cured, only controlled • Research targeting inflammatory triggers (ie. Mast cells) • Vaccines (peptides –protein pieces) – ragweed bound peptide looks promising! www.lungfla.org/aspcode/events_se_area.asp www.le.ac.uk/medicine/ILH/Links.htm www.le.ac.uk/medicine/ILH/Links.htm
REFERENCE PAGE • Asthma. (2003). In Diseases (vol.1, pp.73-77). Sherman Turnpike, Danbury: Grolier Enterprises. • Engel, J. (2005). Asthma. In The Complete Canadian Health Guide (vol. 22, pp.310-311). Toronto: Governing Council of the U. Of T. • Gold, S. (2000). Asthma. Saco, Maine: Custom Communications. • Herron, S. “Smokers put babies at asthma risk”. Spectator., June 21, 1997. • Lane, D. (1988) Asthma, the Facts. Great Britain: Biddles Ltd. • (October 16, 2006). Allergy and Asthma. Retrieved on October 16, 2006 on the World Wide Web: http://uuhsc.utah.edu/healthinfo/adult/allergy/asthma.htm • (October 16,2006). My Asthma. Retrieved on October 16, 2006 on the World Wide Web: www.healthsmart.org/ibreathe • (October 19,2006). Shaping the future of asthma research. Retrieved on October 19, 2006 on the World Wide Web: www.asthma.org.uk