Question

There is no minimum or maximum length expectation for this portion of the assignment. I expect you to communicate as concisely as possible, and recognize that this will require different lengths of responses for each individual.

1. What are the major pathophysiologic differences between asthma and COPD?

2. Name two clinical signs and/or symptoms that would differentiate asthma from COPD, and explain why that sign is a differentiating feature.

3. Hayden (2007) mentions that “[inhaled corticosteroids] still form the cornerstone of maintenance asthma therapy”; why are corticosteroids so effective for asthma control?

4. What is the difference in effect between a corticosteroid and a bronchodilator in treating asthma, and why do asthma patients need both?

5. Do you think that the drug discussed in the article by Hayden (2007) could be effective for treating COPD? Explain why or why not, founding your response in pathophysiologic changes in COPD and asthma.

Answer 1

Answer 1. Though both asthma and COPD being chronic inflammatory lung diseases but major pathophysiologic difference between asthma and COPD is that, in asthma the inflammations are caused by eosinophils and in COPD, inflammations are due to neutrophils. Breathing in asthma can sooner or later come to normal but in COPD the damage is more severe and never becomes normal.

Answer 2. The difference between symptoms of asthma and COPD are that, asthma is typically accompanied with attacks of wheezing along with tightness in the chest.

Whereas in COPD, the symptoms are more constant and additionally cough is included with phlegm.

Answer 3. ICS or the inhaled corticosteroids are the most effective in controlling asthma. They work by suppressing inflammations by switching off multiple activated inflammatory genes through the process of reversing histone acetylation via the placement of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2). These corticosteroids aslo reduce swelling of the airways.

Answer 4. The corticosteroids helps in reducing the swellings of breathing passage and the lungs as a treatment for asthma. But in first step bronchodilator inhaler should be used as it helps in opening the air passages of the lungs to make it easier for air to get in and out of the lungs. This is the fast relief method but not the treatment.