Chronic Asthma
What is chronic asthma?
Asthma, like chronic bronchitis, is a disease of the airways. Obstruction to the flow of air is due to inflammation of the airways as well as spasm of muscles surrounding the airways in asthma. The narrowing that results from spasm of the muscles is called bronchospasm. Generally, bronchospasm in asthma is reversible and subsides spontaneously or with the use of bronchodilators (medications that relax the muscles surrounding the airways). We now know that a major component of asthma is inflammation of the airways, and this inflammation causes thickening of the walls of the airways. This inflammation involves different inflammatory cells and mediators than those seen in chronic bronchitis. This may play a role in the choice of antiinflammatory medications for these similar yet different entities. In many asthmatics, antiinflammatory medications such as inhaled steroids are required to reduce this inflammation. In long standing asthma, this chronic inflammation can lead to scarring and fixed airway obstruction.
Asthma, like chronic bronchitis, is a disease of the airways. Obstruction to the flow of air is due to inflammation of the airways as well as spasm of muscles surrounding the airways in asthma. The narrowing that results from spasm of the muscles is called bronchospasm. Generally, bronchospasm in asthma is reversible and subsides spontaneously or with the use of bronchodilators (medications that relax the muscles surrounding the airways). We now know that a major component of asthma is inflammation of the airways, and this inflammation causes thickening of the walls of the airways. This inflammation involves different inflammatory cells and mediators than those seen in chronic bronchitis. This may play a role in the choice of antiinflammatory medications for these similar yet different entities. In many asthmatics, antiinflammatory medications such as inhaled steroids are required to reduce this inflammation. In long standing asthma, this chronic inflammation can lead to scarring and fixed airway obstruction.
