pathophysiology of asthma

[Asterix]

I am a bit confused as to how asthma pathophysiology works. As soon as there is some allergic factor such as pollen etc, do the lungs get inflamed. I have been reading about it today and yet remain confused when exactly mast cells, eosinophils etc come into action.

[Sir_Dispensalot]

Pathophysiology of Asthma - Bronchial Asthma - Asthma Pathophysiology

MerckMedicus Modules: Asthma - Pathophysiology

Asthma - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pathophysiology of Bronchial Asthma


have a look at these - they might put a bit more of it into laymans terms to help you understand.

Failing these, try google. like i just did

[Asterix]

Pathophysiology of Asthma - Bronchial Asthma - Asthma Pathophysiology

MerckMedicus Modules: Asthma - Pathophysiology

Asthma - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pathophysiology of Bronchial Asthma


have a look at these - they might put a bit more of it into laymans terms to help you understand.

Failing these, try google. like i just did

I had looked through all of them before posting.

The airflow obstruction is another approach in pathophysiology of bronchial asthma to evaluate the seriousness of asthma. Obstruction in the airway could be due to a series of reasons among which could be the edema of the airway, remodeling of the airway, the formation of a stubborn mucous plug in the airway, acute constriction of the bronchi, et

This is where my confusion arises, how do oedema of the airway etc suddenly occur?

[Nik]

Pulmonary oedema associated with airway obstruction -- Lang et al. 37 (2): 210 -- Canadian Journal of Anesthesia

Found, in all places, in the Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia. In particular look at table 3. Pathogenesis is something to do with neagtive intrapleural pressure.

[Asterix]

I don't want to overcomplicate myself with studies. All I want to know is are the lungs already inflamed due to an existiting condition or do they become inflamed due to allergens?

[jaymags]

It cetainly feels like my lungs get inflamed due to allergens. I have been asthmatic for about 20 years. Mine is mainly stress related asthma but also made worse by allergens.

[Nik]

Have you looked in Clin Pharm and Therapeutics ? The chapter on asthma is useful. Airway hyperresponsiveness appears to cause among other things, oedema. Macrophages release PAF which could cause this hyperresponsiveness.

[Shwampa]

I hope this will help you:

http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/re...161/5/1720.pdf

http://assets.cambridge.org/97805217...18_excerpt.pdf

[DavidS]

I don't want to overcomplicate myself with studies.

Mmmm

[Mensfuff]

From what i understand; in people who's asthma worsens in presence of allergens it is due to mast cells being depolarised by the allergen (releasing histamine, leukotrienes etc.)

If the mast cells are very sensitive to the allergens in question, the release of histamine etc. would cause the swelling and difficulty in breathing.

In type I hypersensitivity reactions, there is a primary exposure (which basically primes the immune system) then any further exposure would cause a much higher immune/inflammatory response which would occur in seconds (after exposure) and could potentially close off the airways.

Hope this helps.