Looking at physiology in the treatment of asthma

In this paper, I propose to consider some principles of Physiology in relation to our treatment of the asthmatic child or adult who has suffered the disease for a relatively short time, compared with the adult whose asthma is long standing and who has progressed to some degree of Obstructive Airways Disease. The first is a functional, reversible disease, characterised by episodes of wheeze of varying degree, and with periods of normalcy in between. The second is a structural disease characterised by impairment of activity at all times and the production of copious sputum. This is in itself an irreversible disease but may have an overlying reversible component of varying degree. My recent experience has come from the treatment of out-patients, so that I have not included here treatment for the disabled in-patient with obstructive airways disease, who requires more intensive care.