Asthma

ASTHMAThe Jeopardy Edition

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Epidemiology Treatment Patient Beliefs Pathophysiology

Asthma is only ever developed in childhood.

Or…True False


Oops…

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, asthma can be developed at any age. If asthma is developed in adulthood, the asthma is

diagnosed as adult onset asthma.


Correct!

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, asthma can be developed at any age. If asthma is developed in adulthood, the asthma is

diagnosed as adult onset asthma.

Asthma is more prevalent for those with family incomes below the

poverty level.

Or…True False

Asthma is more prevalent for those with family incomes below the poverty level.

Correct!

The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reports: “While 11.2% of those with incomes less than 100% of the poverty level had asthma, asthma prevalence was

8.7% for persons with incomes 100% to less than 200% of the poverty level, and 7.3% for persons with incomes

at least 200% of the poverty level.”

Asthma is more prevalent for those with family incomes below the poverty level.

Oops…

The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reports: “While 11.2% of those with incomes less than 100% of the poverty level had asthma, asthma prevalence was

8.7% for persons with incomes 100% to less than 200% of the poverty level, and 7.3% for persons with incomes

at least 200% of the poverty level.”

Asthma is associated with comorbidities (meaning other illnesses) including mental

illness.

Or…True False


illness.

Correct!

According to a 2009 Canadian study called “The added burden of comorbidity in patients with asthma”,

respondents with asthma were more likely to have comorbidities including non-asthma chronic respiratory

disease, allergy, and mental illness.


illness.

Oops…

According to a 2009 Canadian study called “The added burden of comorbidity in patients with asthma”,

respondents with asthma were more likely to have comorbidities including non-asthma chronic respiratory

disease, allergy, and mental illness.

There are no sex differences in asthma prevalence between male and female pre-

pubertal children.

Or…True False


pubertal children.

Oops…

Male children tend to have higher prevalence of asthma before puberty, and female children tend to

have higher prevalence of asthma after puberty (Osman, 2003).

Osman, M. (2003). Therapeutic implications of sex differences in asthma and atopy. Archives of disease in childhood, 88(7), 587-590.


pubertal children.

Correct!

Male children tend to have higher prevalence of asthma before puberty, and female children tend to

have higher prevalence of asthma after puberty (Osman, 2003).

Osman, M. (2003). Therapeutic implications of sex differences in asthma and atopy. Archives of disease in childhood, 88(7), 587-590.

I can’t stop taking my inhalers, even if I feel better.

Or…True False


Correct!When patients take their puffers, they are inhaling medication

that reduces the inflammation in their airways.Since inflamed airways make breathing difficult, patients who

stop taking their medication will notice more symptoms flaring up as well as a greater number of asthma attacks.

This is because the air passages in their lungs will always be predisposed to greater levels of inflammation compared to an

individual who does not have asthma.


Oops…When patients take their puffers, they are inhaling medication

that reduces the inflammation in their airways.Since inflamed airways make breathing difficult, patients who

stop taking their medication will notice more symptoms flaring up as well as a greater number of asthma attacks.

This is because the air passages in their lungs will always be predisposed to greater levels of inflammation compared to an

individual who does not have asthma.

I cannot share my inhalers with my friends because not all asthma medications are the

same.

Or…True False


same.

Correct!There are many types of inhalers and each can have a different type of medication. Some medications are rescue medications which a patient

needs to take right away if they are having trouble breathing due to their asthma. However, there are other medications that are meant to keep airways open and healthy over the long term, thereby preventing

future symptom flare-ups.You and your friends may have similar shaped inhalers, but the

medication inside may be very different and help you both in different ways. Therefore, it is recommended that you do not share your inhalers

with your friends.


same.

Oops…There are many types of inhalers and each can have a different type of medication. Some medications are rescue medications which a patient

needs to take right away if they are having trouble breathing due to their asthma. However, there are other medications that are meant to keep airways open and healthy over the long term, thereby preventing

future symptom flare-ups.You and your friends may have similar shaped inhalers, but the

medication inside may be very different and help you both in different ways. Therefore, it is recommended that you do not share your inhalers

with your friends.

I can take any inhaler that is the same colour as the one I use.

Or…True False


Oops…While some other inhalers may be the same colour as your prescribed puffer, there is no one universal system of colour

coding inhaled asthma medication. For example, one common rescue medication can come in a blue puffer with a blue cap or a

white puffer with a blue cap. Another version of the same medication can also come in red or yellow puffers. To prevent accidentally taking a medication that may be harmful for you,

only take the inhalers you have been prescribed.


Correct!While some other inhalers may be the same colour as your prescribed puffer, there is no one universal system of colour

coding inhaled asthma medication. For example, one common rescue medication can come in a blue puffer with a blue cap or a

white puffer with a blue cap. Another version of the same medication can also come in red or yellow puffers. To prevent accidentally taking a medication that may be harmful for you,

only take the inhalers you have been prescribed.

There is no point in using my inhaler with a spacer, such as an Aerochamber.

Or…True False


Oops…Using a spacer can help ensure that the medication is not

escaping into the air. As well, using a spacer helps prevent your medication from accumulating in your mouth and throat, as well

as pushing more of it into your lungs where it can work most effectively. Through all of these functions, spacers help reduce

the amount of corticosteroids entering a patient’s bloodstream, instead localizing it to the target organ - their lungs.


Correct!Using a spacer can help ensure that the medication is not

escaping into the air. As well, using a spacer helps prevent your medication from accumulating in your mouth and throat, as well

as pushing more of it into your lungs where it can work most effectively. Through all of these functions, spacers help reduce

the amount of corticosteroids entering a patient’s bloodstream, instead localizing it to the target organ - their lungs.

Asthma cannot be cured.

Or…True False


Correct!

Asthma is a treatable health condition. Despite great advances in treatments over the years, unfortunately we still don’t have a cure. However, with appropriate

diagnosis and good management, just about everyone with asthma can lead normal, active lives.


Oops…

Asthma is a treatable health condition. Despite great advances in treatments over the years, unfortunately we still don’t have a cure. However, with appropriate

diagnosis and good management, just about everyone with asthma can lead normal, active lives.

Children will usually outgrow asthma.

Or…True False


Oops…Asthma is a long term health condition in which the lungs over-react to certain things. This overreaction never entirely disappears, but in some

people it becomes so minor that there aren’t any more symptoms. Some children have asthma symptoms that improve or disappear during

adolescence. Those with more severe or persistent asthma tend to remain much the same as they become adults. Even when symptoms disappear

completely, there is a chance they may return later on in life, particularly with infections or exercise, or major changes such as pregnancy.

Some children with asthma like symptoms (e.g. wheezing or coughing) due to another disease may be incorrectly thought to “outgrow their asthma” when

these symptoms subside.


Correct!Asthma is a long term health condition in which the lungs over-react to certain things. This overreaction never entirely disappears, but in some

people it becomes so minor that there aren’t any more symptoms. Some children have asthma symptoms that improve or disappear during

adolescence. Those with more severe or persistent asthma tend to remain much the same as they become adults. Even when symptoms disappear

completely, there is a chance they may return later on in life, particularly with infections or exercise, or major changes such as pregnancy.

Some children with asthma like symptoms (e.g. wheezing or coughing) due to another disease may be incorrectly thought to “outgrow their asthma” when

these symptoms subside.

Avoiding wheat and milk improves asthma.

Or…True False


Oops…

Diet plays a minimal role in the management of asthma, apart from ensuring it is healthy and balanced. Avoiding

wheat and milk can cause nutrition problems, particularly in children. Studies have shown that milk does not

increase mucus production or worsen asthma. Avoidance of any food group to affect your asthma is not

recommended, unless you have a proven intolerance or allergy.


Correct!

Diet plays a minimal role in the management of asthma, apart from ensuring it is healthy and balanced. Avoiding

wheat and milk can cause nutrition problems, particularly in children. Studies have shown that milk does not

increase mucus production or worsen asthma. Avoidance of any food group to affect your asthma is not

recommended, unless you have a proven intolerance or allergy.

People with asthma can still exercise.

Or…True False


Correct!

Exercise is as important for people with asthma as it is for anyone else. With care or pretreatment, people with asthma can

exercise normally and often vigorously. People with asthma generally do better with exercise in environments with relatively

high humidity, since exercise-induced airway narrowing (bronchospasm) can be caused by drying of the airways. Slow warm-up and cool-down periods with exercise also helps to

prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB).


Oops…

Exercise is as important for people with asthma as it is for anyone else. With care or pretreatment, people with asthma can

exercise normally and often vigorously. People with asthma generally do better with exercise in environments with relatively

high humidity, since exercise-induced airway narrowing (bronchospasm) can be caused by drying of the airways. Slow warm-up and cool-down periods with exercise also helps to

prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB).

Your immune system plays an important role in allergic reactions and asthma.

Or…True False


Correct!

Asthma is often triggered by allergic reaction to normally harmless substances (for example, from

cats!). This is mediated by your immune system that recognize these allergens to start inflammation.


Oops…

Asthma is often triggered by allergic reaction to normally harmless substances (for example, from

cats!). This is mediated by your immune system that recognize these allergens to start inflammation.

What term is used to describe the underlying problem of asthma,

involving narrowing of the patient's airway?

What term is used to describe the underlying problem of asthma, involving

narrowing of the patient's airway?

Brochoconstriction

“Broncho-”: relating to the bronchi (airway)“Constriction”: … constriction

Patients with asthma have difficulties breathing in, rather than breathing out.

Or…True False


Correct!Asthma is an obstructive lung disease, which means your airways are

blocked. Your lungs hyperinflate with air, causing greater difficulty getting air in than pushing air out of your lungs (Lougheed et al., 1993).

Another class of lung disease is restrictive, when your lungs are stiff and unable to fill up with air fully. An example of this can be pulmonary

fibrosis.

Lougheed, M. D., Lam, M., Forkert, L. U. T. Z., Webb, K. A., & O'Donnell, D. E. (1993). Breathlessness during acute bronchoconstriction in asthma: pathophysiologic mechanisms. American Review of Respiratory Disease, 148(6_pt_1), 1452-1459.


Oops…Asthma is an obstructive lung disease, which means your airways are

blocked. Your lungs hyperinflate with air, causing greater difficulty getting air in than pushing air out of your lungs (Lougheed et al., 1993).

Another class of lung disease is restrictive, when your lungs are stiff and unable to fill up with air fully. An example of this can be pulmonary

fibrosis.

Lougheed, M. D., Lam, M., Forkert, L. U. T. Z., Webb, K. A., & O'Donnell, D. E. (1993). Breathlessness during acute bronchoconstriction in asthma: pathophysiologic mechanisms. American Review of Respiratory Disease, 148(6_pt_1), 1452-1459.

Which of the following is not a correct physiological factor that contributes to the

development of asthma?

A. Increased mucus production

B. Smooth muscle contraction

C. Reduced immune response

D. Higher number of smooth muscle cells

E. None of the above



Increased mucus, smooth muscle number and contraction all lead to constriction of airway, which is a characteristic of

asthma. However, in asthma, your immune system is hyper-sensitive (or hyperactive) to allergens to cause these

inflammatory signs.

C) Reduced immune response

Correct!



Increased mucus, smooth muscle number and contraction all lead to constriction of airway, which is a characteristic of

asthma. However, in asthma, your immune system is hyper-sensitive (or hyperactive) to allergens to cause these

inflammatory signs.

C) Reduced immune response

Oops…

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Asthma