| asthma | <chest medicine> A disease process that is characterised by paradoxical narrowing of the bronchi (lung passageways) making breathing difficult. Treatment includes bronchodilators which are given orally or delivered as an aerosol (inhaled). Corticosteroids are reserved for more difficult cases. Symptoms include wheezing, difficulty breathing (particularly exhaling air) and tightness in the chest. Factors which can exacerbate asthma include rapid changes in temperature or humidity, allergies, upper respiratory infections, exercise, stress or smoke (cigarette). See: status asthmaticus. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| asthma crystals | Crystal's in the shape of elongated double pyramids, formed from eosinophils, found in the sputum in bronchial asthma and in other exudates or transudates containing eosinophils. Synonym: asthma crystals, Charcot-Neumann crystals, Charcot-Robin crystals, Leyden's crystals. (05 Mar 2000) |
| asthma, exercise-induced | Asthma attacks following a period of exercise. Usually the induced attack is short-lived and regresses spontaneously. The magnitude of postexertional airway obstruction is strongly influenced by the environment in which exercise is performed (i.e. Inhalation of cold air during physical exertion markedly augments the severity of the airway obstruction; conversely, warm humid air blunts or abolishes it). (12 Dec 1998) |
| asthma-weed | Synonym: lobelia. Synonym: Euphorbia pilulifera. (05 Mar 2000) |
| atopic asthma | Bronchial asthma due to atopy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bronchial asthma | A condition of the lungs in which there is widespread narrowing of airways, varying over short periods of time either spontaneously or as a result of treatment, due in varying degrees to contraction (spasm) of smooth muscle, oedema of the mucosa, and mucus in the lumen of the bronchi and bronchioles; these changes are caused by the local release of spasmogens and vasoactive substances (e.g., histamine, or certain leukotrienes or prostaglandins) in the course of an allergic process. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bronchitic asthma | Asthma precipitated by bronchitis. Synonym: catarrhal asthma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cardiac asthma | An asthmatic attack, the bronchoconstriction being secondary to the pulmonary congestion and oedema of left ventricular failure. (05 Mar 2000) |
| catarrhal asthma | Asthma precipitated by bronchitis. Synonym: catarrhal asthma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| reflex asthma | Asthma occurring as a reflex in disease of the viscera, the nose, or other parts. (05 Mar 2000) |
| miller's asthma | Asthma caused by flour or grain allergens. (05 Mar 2000) |
| miner's asthma | The dyspnea of anthracosis or other pneumoconioses in miners. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cotton-dust asthma | <chest medicine> Exposures to cotton dust during the production of yarns, linen and rope can produce chronic obstructive lung disease (after 10 years). Early symptoms include chest tightness. Treatment includes bronchodilators and removal from work environment. (21 Mar 1998) |
| spasmodic asthma | Asthma due to spasm of the bronchioles. (05 Mar 2000) |
| steam-fitter's asthma | Asthma associated with asbestosis acquired by exposure to asbestos-insulated heating and plumbing components. (05 Mar 2000) |