What Happens to the Lung Structures During an Asthma Attack?
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Lung Structure
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The respiratory system is made up of four main parts designed to deliver oxygen to the bloodstream: the trachea, bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli. The design resembles that of a tree, where a trunk divides into branches, stems and then leaves. The trachea is the main path that takes in air. It delivers the air to the two bronchi, which are essentially two tubes, one for each lung. The bronchi are further divided into several bronchioles, which branch out into the alveoli. The alveoli are responsible for delivering oxygen from the air into the blood stream.
Asthma
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Asthma is a chronic condition that affects the muscles of the lungs. Although many people's lungs constrict as a response to allergens or foreign debris, an asthmatic's lungs constrict even further. This results in great difficulty inhaling and exhaling. Furthermore, becauseair in an asthmatic's lungs is not fresh, it has higher concentrations of carbon dioxide, making it more toxic to the body.
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During an Attack
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The bronchi are usually the first to react during an asthma attack. They have cholinergic receptors that force them to immediately constrict, reducing the amount of allergens trying to enter. This constriction happens when the smooth muscle surrounding the bronchi begins to spasm.
They also become inflamed and produce excess mucusto push out any allergens that have already entered the system. During the muscle spasm, cells lining the airway begin to shed, thus forcing the production of more mucus and further narrowing the breathing path. The bronchioles can also react during an asthma attack. They also can constrict to prevent allergens from entering into the alveoli.
Treatment
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Asthma is a treatable condition. Doctors often prescribe asthmatics with metered-dose medication usually dispensed through an asthma inhaler. These medications, when properly inhaled, produce an aerosol mist that directly goes into the lungs and forces the bronchi to stay open, allowing for a proper airflow. However, the medication doesn't always reach deep into the most constricted bronchioles because some asthmatics, like children, have greater difficulty inhaling due to their small lungs. Special spacer chambers can be attached to the asthma inhaler. These spacers entrap the medication, giving the asthmatic a chance to take a deep breath and force it further into the lungs.
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