Ace the 2025 ATI Pathophysiology Test – Dive Into Disease with Confidence!

Asthma is primarily characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, which leads to difficulty in breathing and is a hallmark feature of the condition. In asthma, the airways become hyperresponsive to various stimuli, resulting in bronchoconstriction, airway inflammation, and increased mucus secretion. This inflammatory process is driven by the immune response, which can be triggered by allergens, irritants, or respiratory infections. The narrowing of the airways significantly contributes to the symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.

While overproduction of mucus in the lungs can also occur in asthma, it is often a consequence of the underlying inflammation and airway obstruction rather than the primary pathological change. Increased lung capacity is not a characteristic of asthma; instead, individuals often experience reduced airflow and increased work of breathing during an exacerbation. Lastly, the destruction of alveolar walls is more characteristic of conditions like emphysema, not asthma, which primarily affects the bronchi and bronchioles rather than the alveoli.