During asthma, the airway narrows due to smooth muscle constriction. How can the body respond to maintain ventilation of the alveoli? Why, sometimes, do people die from severe asthma?
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: A decrease in the diameter of the airways will increase airway resistance, but the individual can overcome this extra resistance by creating a greater transpulmonary pressure gradient (inhaling and expiring more deeply). However, there are limits to how much pressure can be generated by the respiratory system. If the airway constriction is too great, the individual cannot compensate, and airflow to the alveoli will be too low to supply sufficient oxygen to the body.
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