Asthma

Asthma is a complex disorder characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, airflow obstruction, bronchial hyper-responsiveness, and underlying inflammation. Although asthma is commonly thought of as a disease of children and young adults, a significant percentage of the older adult population is affected and carry a higher rate of morbidity and mortality from the disease. This book examines the causes, complications and treatment of asthma with topics including mathematical modelling in aspirin-induced asthma; the role of neuroimmune and psychological systems in the pathophysiology of bronchial asthma; special considerations of asthma in older adults; changes in the respiratory epithelium in bronchial asthma; and epidemiology of asthma during pregnancy.