Abstract

WHEEZING WISDOM: AN IN- DEPTH LOOK AT ASTHMA

Harsh Shankhyan, Komal Pathania*, Deepika and Bhartendu Sharma

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Abstract

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by hyperresponsiveness and variable airflow obstruction. This review provides a comprehensive overview of asthma, encompassing its definition, epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment, drawing from both the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and Canadian Thoracic Society guidelines. The various types of asthma, including child-onset, adult-onset, exercise-induced, cough- induced, occupational, nocturnal, and steroid-resistant asthma, are discussed. Key triggers such as allergies, tobacco smoke, environmental factors, obesity, stress, and genetic predisposition are highlighted. Diagnostic approaches, including symptom assessment, physical examination, and lung function tests, are outlined. Management strategies, emphasizing a stepwise approach with controller medications (inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene receptor antagonists, theophylline), reliever medications (short-acting beta-agonists), and add-on therapies (long- acting beta-agonists, long-acting muscarinic antagonists, biologic therapies), are detailed. Allergen-specific immunotherapy and bronchial thermoplasty are also considered as potential treatment options. Additionally, the review explores the complex mechanisms underlying airway inflammation, including the roles of T helper 2 cells, cytokines, eosinophils, mast cells, and airway remodeling. Understanding the multifaceted nature of asthma is crucial for optimizing patient care and improving outcomes.

Keywords: Asthma, long-acting, Allergic, Pathophysiology.