Asthma is best defined as which condition?

Asthma is best defined as which condition?

• A. Irreversible airway obstruction due to persistent dilation.
• B. Reversible airway obstruction caused by inflammation, contraction of airway smooth muscle, increased mucus secretion, and plugging of bronchioles.
• C. Permanent holes in lung tissue.
• D. Sleep breathing cessation.

Answer: (B)

Asthma is defined by reversible narrowing of the airways that occurs in episodes due to inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness. The obstruction comes from a mix of inflammatory swelling in the airway walls, contraction of the smooth muscle surrounding the airways (bronchospasm), and increased mucus production with plugging of the small airways. Because these changes are not permanently fixed, the airflow limitation often improves significantly with bronchodilators or anti‑inflammatory treatment, and symptoms can vary over time and with triggers. This reversibility distinguishes asthma from conditions with fixed, permanent obstruction or structural damage. The other descriptions point to different diseases: irreversible obstruction due to persistent dilation suggests a fixed limitation seen in some chronic obstructive patterns; permanent holes in lung tissue describe structural destruction like emphysema; sleep breathing cessation refers to obstructive sleep apnea.

Asthma is defined by reversible narrowing of the airways that occurs in episodes due to inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness. The obstruction comes from a mix of inflammatory swelling in the airway walls, contraction of the smooth muscle surrounding the airways (bronchospasm), and increased mucus production with plugging of the small airways. Because these changes are not permanently fixed, the airflow limitation often improves significantly with bronchodilators or anti‑inflammatory treatment, and symptoms can vary over time and with triggers. This reversibility distinguishes asthma from conditions with fixed, permanent obstruction or structural damage.

The other descriptions point to different diseases: irreversible obstruction due to persistent dilation suggests a fixed limitation seen in some chronic obstructive patterns; permanent holes in lung tissue describe structural destruction like emphysema; sleep breathing cessation refers to obstructive sleep apnea.