Question:

Asthma may be attributed to :

Updated On: Apr 20, 2025
  • allergic reaction of the mast cells in the lungs
  • inflammation of the trachea
  • accumulation of fluid in the lungs
  • bacterial infection of the lungs
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Solution and Explanation

Asthma: An Allergic Condition 

Asthma is an allergic condition in which the tissue surrounding the bronchioles of the lungs swells up and compresses the bronchioles, causing difficulty in breathing. This condition can be triggered by allergens such as pollen, dust mites, or smoke.

Key Factors Involved:

  • IgE Antibodies: These are immune system proteins that play a key role in allergic reactions. They trigger the release of various chemicals that lead to inflammation and constriction of the airways in asthma.
  • Histamine: A chemical released by mast cells during an allergic reaction. It contributes to inflammation and constriction of the airways.
  • Serotonin: Another chemical released from mast cells, contributing to the inflammatory response and bronchoconstriction.

Conclusion:

In asthma, the combined effect of these chemicals leads to the narrowing of the airways, making it difficult to breathe and causing the characteristic symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.

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Concepts Used:

Breathing and Exchange of Gases

A metabolic process, which is carried out by all living organisms including plants, animals, and humans for the production of energy and to stay alive is Respiration.  Except for required anaerobes, every other organism from amoeba to humans needs oxygen for survival. And evolution has reported a number of systems that allows the exchange of gases in organisms.

There are two types of respiration such as;

  1. Aerobic respiration — to produce energy, it occurs in the presence of oxygen
  2. Anaerobic respiration — to produce energy, occurs in the absence of oxygen

Breathing can be simply derived as the process of inhaling oxygen gas from the atmosphere and exhaling the carbon dioxide gas back into the atmosphere is termed breathing and the process is commonly known as respiration.

Read More: Breathing and Exchange of Gases