WebMDAsthma

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Asthma affects approximately 25 million Americans and results in 1.6 million emergency room visits annually. This comprehensive review examines the pathophysiology, classification, diagnostic approaches, and current treatment modalities for asthma management. The article presents detailed insights into various asthma phenotypes, risk factors, and specific considerations for different patient populations.

Key Points:

• Asthma classification spans four categories based on symptom frequency: mild intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent, and severe persistent. Disease progression markers include increased symptom frequency, breathing difficulty measured by peak flow meters, and increased reliance on quick-relief inhalers.
• Multiple asthma phenotypes require distinct management approaches: adult-onset, pediatric, allergic, exercise-induced, eosinophilic, and specialized variants including status asthmaticus, occupational, nocturnal, aspirin-induced, and cough-variant asthma.
• Diagnostic protocol encompasses spirometry, peak flow measurements, methacholine challenge, exhaled nitric oxide testing, and may include chest X-rays, CT scans, allergy testing, and sputum eosinophils evaluation.
• Treatment strategy typically involves a combination of quick-relief and long-term control medications: inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, short and long-acting beta-agonists, anticholinergics, and biologics for severe cases.
• Female patients require special consideration due to hormonal influences: menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause can significantly impact symptom presentation and management requirements.

HCN Healer Handbook
“Let’s talk about how asthma affects your breathing. Think of your airways like branches of a tree. When something irritates them – maybe pollen or cold air – these branches can become swollen and tight, making it harder to breathe. Your medications work in two ways: controllers help prevent the swelling, while rescue inhalers quickly open up the airways when needed. The key is recognizing your personal triggers and warning signs. When you notice [specific symptom], that’s your body telling you to check your peak flow and possibly use your quick-relief inhaler. If [emergency warning sign] occurs, don’t wait – seek immediate medical attention.
Remember, good asthma control means you can live an active life. Let’s work together to keep your asthma well-managed.”

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