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Physiological Changes Causing Airway Obstruction in Asthma
Airway obstruction in asthma is the result of three primary physiological changes. First, the airway walls become inflamed and thickened. Second, the smooth muscles surrounding the airways tighten, constricting the passage. Finally, there is an overproduction of mucus, which further clogs the airways. The cumulative effect of these changes is a significantly narrowed airway, which restricts airflow and makes breathing difficult.
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A patient is diagnosed with a chronic respiratory disease characterized by airway obstruction. The two primary physiological changes responsible for this obstruction are inflammation that thickens the airway walls and the tightening of muscles surrounding the airways. How do these two changes interact to cause the patient's symptoms?