Urban explosion and the air pollutant ozone are implicated in the growing number of asthma cases in the United States and specifically the Baltimore-Washington region. Having completed the Urban Explosion presentation you are now ready to learn about the disease of asthma.
Asthma, which comes from a Greek word meaning to breathe hard or to pant, was identified and described as early as the 4th century BC by Hippocrates. He was able to recognize the spasmodic nature of the disorder and hypothesized that its onset was caused by moisture, occupation, and climate. The "Father of Medicine" suspected that asthma was analogous to epilepsy in that it had "its own nature" generated by external causes.
Begin your study of this physiological condition through the links supplied below then answer the questions:
Asthma, the health condition that deserves a little more respect
-Dr. Art Hister
Overview of Asthma
The following instructions will begin your quest with a presentation and an animation detailing the disease of asthma.
and then
View the animation LUNG ATTACK. See how the lung works and the affects of air pollution.
A Brief Asthma Timeline
Now that you have an overview of this disorder lets begin to detail its history and our understanding of its causes, symptoms and treatment 1. Hippocrates was able to recognize the spasmodic nature of asthma and believed its onset to be caused by moisture, occupation, and climate. He suspected that asthma was comparable to epilepsy and had "its own nature" arising from external causes.a. True b. False2. Although he observed the reactions of patients to both the smoky London air and potent odors, Floyer was unable to determine that elements of the environment could trigger asthma attacks.a. True b. False3. It was the scientist Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier who was able to demonstrate that during respiration, inspired air is converted into carbon dioxide contributing to our modern understanding of the relationship between human respiration and gas exchange.a. True b. False4. It was believed that liquors, strong coffee, smoking tobacco, and garlic were helpful in easing asthma exacerbations.a. True b. FalseDrug Treatments for Asthma:Adrenaline
4. Adrenaline was the first regularly used drug that enabled the relaxation of smooth muscle in the airways (bronchodilation).a. True b. FalseFurther Developments in Asthma Treatments-1960s
5. Information about receptors was then used to produce asthma drugs that activate them, called specific beta2 receptor agonists, giving patients access to a short-acting rescue therapy that could be self-administered using an inhaler device.a. True b. False6. By destabilizing the mast cell membrane, cromoglycate may help to prevent the release of some inflammatory substances from the granules in the mast cells.
a. True b. FalseNobel Prize Winning Research-1982
7. The results of his experiments established that the biological activity of SRS-A was due to a group of compounds called ________________.New Therapies-Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists (1990s)
8. Leukotriene receptor antagonists are able to decrease the amount of airway swelling and mucus secretion by airway tissues, reduce bronchoconstriction, and suppress the infiltration of inflammatory eosinophil cells.a. True b. FalseCurrent Goals and Future Strides
9. It is important to remember that a lot of people have asthma, but with knowledge and treatment asthmatic patients have the ability to live happy, healthy, and extraordinary lives.a. True b. False
Learn the physiology and treatments for asthma. Follow the links and answer the questions provided:
What is asthma?1. Your respiratory system is composed of your trachea, bronchioles and alveoli. They work in a coordinated fashion to produce gas exchange CO2 for O2.a. True b. FalseWhy Does Asthma Occur and What Happens During an Asthma Attack?
2. Before an asthma attack airways are open with the muscles surrounding them relaxed and air reaches the alveoli without any obstructions.a. True b. False3. During an asthma attack the airways open even wider as the muscles surrounding the bronchioles relax even further then normal.
a. True b. False4. It's also harder to exhale when asthma strikes as air is trapped in the lung as a result of the airway constrictions.
a. True b. False5. Substances, or conditions, that can cause an asthma attack are called triggers. Some common triggers of asthma attacks are:a. allergens (pollen, air pollution, etc.)b. infections like colds or bronchitis
c. exercise
d. changes in the weather (from mild to cold)
e. smoke
f. All of the above
6. Though inherent risk factors can't be changed, external factors can be modified to reduce the risk or severity of asthma in children and adults.a. True b. False7. Which of the following is NOT an inherent risk factor for developing asthma in childhood?
a. genderb. age
c. allergies
d. family history
e. None of the above
8. The external risk factors for asthma are basically the same for both children and adults, with the exception of occupational risks.
a. True b. False9. When you visit a physician, which of the following signs of asthma would they NOT look for?
a. Inflammation of the nasal or sinus passages, especially due to rhinitis or sinusitisb. Excessive chest expansion.This is common in children who have difficulty breathing
c. Sounds and locations of wheezing during normal breathing or a long period of forced exhalation (forcing air out)
d. Weight increase
e. All of the above
10. A high proportion of morbidity and mortality associated with asthma may be prevented by patient compliance, patient education, and aggressive medical management.a. True b. False
Demonstrate your understanding of asthma by building a Power Point Tutorial. It should contain least 10 slides to explain this respiratory disease to a middle-school student.