DTN301 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Acute Bronchitis, Type I Hypersensitivity
DTN301 – Week 11 - Asthma and Lung Disease
Asthma and Lung Disease
COPD
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, which is an umbrella
term that encompasses emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and chronic
asthma that is a long-term lung disease of the lungs
• Although some action can be taken to improve quality of life and decrease
severity of symptoms, it is not fully reversible
• Symptoms: shortness of breath and repetitive cough with phlegm
Emphysema
• Emphysema causes the enlargement of the air spaces and destruction of the airways, it is not reversible
• Once the airways are damaged, there is no regeneration, however, it is preventable and treatment can help
• People with emphysema are more susceptible to chest infections and often have a blue tinge due to the
lack of oxygen, also known as cyanosis, the strongest evidence for a causal risk factor is cigarette smoking
• Causes: cigarette smoking, exposure to industrial of chemical pollutants (usually long-term exposure) and
genetic disorder – a1-antitrypsin deficiency which is rare
• Symptoms: breathlessness, cough and phlegm, fatigue and cyanosis
Chronic Bronchitis
• Chronic bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi passages, these are the larger airways in the lungs, it is
also accompanied by increased mucus that limits passage through the airways
• Chronic bronchitis can last from several months to several years and can come back every year
• It is different from acute bronchitis, which can resolve in just a few weeks
• Causes: cigarette smoking, infection (virus or bacteria) and breathing in dust or irritants
• Symptoms: Breathlessness, chronic cough, wheezing, chest tightness and mucous production
Asthma
• Asthma is respiratory hypersensitivity and inflammation of the airways
• Chronic asthma is a long-term condition that can onset at any age, the muscles around the airways swell
and become narrow, making it harder to breathe, the cause is unknown, but there is often a family history
• Exposure to tobacco smoke, especially during infancy, is also considered to increase the risk of developing
asthma
• Obesity is a risk factor for asthma in both adults and children, and weight loss improves asthma in adults,
there is a broad variety in the severity of the disease and severity of the symptoms, when symptoms
worsen significantly or there is a severe flare up, this is called an asthma attack
• Causes: family history, cigarette smoking (increases risk), obesity (increases risk), exposure to workplace
chemicals (increases risk)
• Symptoms: breathlessness, cough, wheezing and chest tightness
Asthma Epidemiology
• It is estimated that one in nine Australians have asthma and one in five of those have
an asthma action plan, this will be more common in children as it is required at most
schools
• In 2014, 419 people died from asthma, Indigenous Australians were 1.9 times as likely
to have asthma than non-indigenous Australians, and the incidence in males is slightly
higher than in females, incidence of asthma also rises with increasing BMI
Asthma Comorbidities
• Comorbidities are more common in older age groups, 6 in 10 Australians with asthma
currently have at least one other chronic health condition
• People with asthma are 1.3 times more likely to be obese, and of people over 65 years of age with asthma,
63% have cardiovascular disease
Document Summary
Dtn301 week 11 - asthma and lung disease. Chronic bronchitis: chronic bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi passages, these are the larger airways in the lungs, it is also accompanied by increased mucus that limits passage through the airways. It is estimated that one in nine australians have asthma and one in five of those have an asthma action plan, this will be more common in children as it is required at most schools. In 2014, 419 people died from asthma, indigenous australians were 1. 9 times as likely to have asthma than non-indigenous australians, and the incidence in males is slightly higher than in females, incidence of asthma also rises with increasing bmi. Obesity mechanism: obesity puts a strain on the lungs, making them work harder and achieving less, the lungs struggle due to compression of body fat decreasing: pulmonary compliance, lung volumes and diameter of peripheral airways.
