What happens during an acute asthma attack
Lungs before an asthma attack Lungs during an asthma attack
Airways fully opened Airways constricted due to bronchial wall muscle spasms
Normal airway Narrowed airway in asthma attack
Lumen fully opened Lumen diameter decreased
Non constricted walls of airways Constricted walls of airways
Non inflamed walls of airways Inflamed, swollen walls of airways
Lumen not blocked with mucus Lumen blocked with mucus
Healthy bronchial system Bronchial system that is inflamed & clogged by mucus
During an asthma attack the following changes occur in airways of lungs.
Airways get constricted (narrower) due to tightening (spasms) of muscles of airways.
Inflammation and swelling of the walls of airways occur, further narrowing the constricted airways.
Clogging of airways with sticky mucus leading to near total occlusion .
Normal airways
Airways of a person without asthmaAirways of a person with asthma -redness and swelling (inflammation)
Airways of a person with asthma - tightened muscles (bronchospasm)
In people without asthma, the muscles around the airways are relaxed, allowing the airways to stay open. There is no swelling or mucus inside the airways.
In people with asthma, the inside of the airways can get red, swollen, and filled with mucus.
In people with asthma, the muscles around the airways can spasm and squeeze tighter. This leaves less room for air to pass through
 |
The current view of asthma regards it as a complex inflammatory condition, involving many inflammatory cells and a wide variety of chemical mediators. These mediators act on cells of airways leading to smooth muscle contraction, mucus hyper-secretion, and inflammation and swelling of lining of walls of airways. |