Living With Brittle Asthma Trivia Quiz

Answer: It is a chronic inflammatory disease

There is marked bronchospasm in asthma. Bronchospasm is the sudden closure of the lumen of the bronchioles due to the contraction of the smooth muscles. There is also airflow obstruction in asthma, which causes difficulty in breathing. These are reversible in asthma, but going untreated for a long time can cause irreversible damage to the lungs.

It is a chronic condition usually presenting in childhood itself. Its causes can be genetic or environmental.

Answer: True

Depending on a few characteristics, asthma can be classified into the above. The characteristics usually are the frequency of symptoms, forced expiration volume in the first second (FEV) and peak expiratory flow rate. Asthma caused by allergens is called extrinsic or atopic asthma and asthma caused by non-allergenic causes is called non-atopic or intrinsic asthma.

Answer: Exposure to dust

There are plenty of triggers for asthma. Most commonly, exposure to dust and mites causes an asthmatic attack. Asthma is an occupational hazard in a number of factories and industries. Some infections, like rhinovirus infection, will substantially increase the risk of asthma. Genetics is also said to play a big role in acquiring asthma. Asthma is also found in association with other diseases like nasal polyps, obesity and hay fever, among others.

Answer: Status asthmaticus

Although all the above choices make sense, it is also called status asthmaticus. It is a sudden attack of asthma which causes complete airway obstruction and doesn't respond to usual drugs instantly. Respiratory arrest is a very present danger in status asthmaticus. This condition is an emergency and should be treated immediately.

Answer: Constipation

Usually asthma presents with chest tightness, wheezing, difficulty in breathing and cough with expectoration (production of sputum). Some conditions cause effect of asthma to be compounded. Some of these conditions are rhinosinusitis, psychological stress, gastro-esophageal reflux disease and sleep apnea. Symptoms of asthma are generally bad during the night time.

Answer: Pulsus paradoxus

Pulsus paradoxus occurs in pericardial effusion, tension pneumothorax, obesity, pulmonary embolism, etc. In this condition, there is a slight difference between the heart rate and the pulse rate which usually correspond. There is less blood pumped out by the left side of the heart which causes the heart rate to increase.

Answer: Spirometry

Spirometry is widely used in the diagnosis of asthma and pulmonary fibrosis. It is also used in evaluating a patient before anesthesia. It can be used to diagnose vocal cord dysfunction and also to differentiate between restrictive and obstructive respiratory diseases.

Answer: It's OK to smoke

Management of asthma requires some amount of lifestyle modification. Maintenance of hygiene and good practices are important. Cessation of smoking and removal of allergenic triggers from the environment are a start. Regular check ups must be carried out. Timely administration of medication is also important.

Answer: Salbutamol

Salbutamol is the most common drug in nebulizers. It is a short acting drug that acts as a bronchodilator. It is used as a first phase drug in the treatment of asthma. Other drugs used in this phase are pure oxygen and prednisolone (a steroid). Drugs like theophylline, magnesium sulphate, ipratropium bromide, etc., are also used in treatment and management of asthma.

Answer: Leukotriene antagonists

Other leukotriene antagonists are montelukast and pranlukast. They are used in addition to steroids in the treatment of asthma. They inhibit the production of leukotrienes which are produced by the immune system.

Mast cell stabilizers are also used as an alternative to steroids.