Asthma and Animal Testing by Cleo Knight https://padlet.com/6454532/5qfk5kuuo5n3 Use of animals in the research of asthma en-us 2018-02-01 01:37:02 UTC 2025-11-02 18:27:06 UTC hello@padlet.com Asthma: What is it? 6454532 https://padlet.com/6454532/5qfk5kuuo5n3/wish/226869139 Asthma, medically known as bronchial asthma, is a lung disease that affects the airways by inflaming and constricting them.

There are different types of asthma¹
1. Allergic Asthma: This asthma is set of by allergies to food, dust, mold and a variety of other triggers.
2. Asthma without allergies: This type can be set off by upper respiratory infections such as the flue or a cold.
3. Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD): The trigger for this asthma is aspirin.
4. Exercised Induced Asthma: Physical exertion or sports can set off this asthma.
5. Cough Variant: This asthma is characterized by a dry hacking cough.
6. Occupational Asthma: Sometimes triggers in the workplace set off this asthma such as smoke of chlorine.

The following statistics of asthma in the USA were retrieved from American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology:
1. In 2001, 1 in 20 people had asthma. By 2009, 1 in 12 people had asthma. This shows that the disease is becoming more common.
2. 46.9% of people with asthma had an attack in 2015 making this a very serious disease.

^{1. (Nelson, 2013)}

]]> 2018-02-01 01:37:26 UTC https://padlet.com/6454532/5qfk5kuuo5n3/wish/226869139 Use of Animals 6454532 https://padlet.com/6454532/5qfk5kuuo5n3/wish/226869168 Animals have been a valuable asset in scientific research for years. Starting in the 20th century, animals were tested on to gain a better understanding of asthma. Below is a brief timeline of the usage of animals in asthma research.
1. In the 1960's, guinea pig lungs were used to understand what chemicals were released from the tissues when normal biological processes are disturbed. Leukotriene was discovered to be the primary cause of inflammatory and allergic conditions. Further animal testing on guinea pigs and primates led to leukotriene-receptor antagonists drugs, released in 1998. This was the first new asthma medication in 20 years.²
2. Animal testing was used in the 1960's for the discovery and characterization of glucocorticosteroids, medication that suppresses underlying inflammation.
3. Animals testing also lead to the discovery that the first bronchodilators were too short acting, and also stimulated the heart. Further testing lead to safer and longer lasting bronchodilators.

Currently, mice are being used to examine the role of genes in asthma. With gene therapy there is hope to remove the gene of interest.

^{2. (Buelo, 2017)}]]> 2018-02-01 01:37:38 UTC https://padlet.com/6454532/5qfk5kuuo5n3/wish/226869168 Current Treatments 6454532 https://padlet.com/6454532/5qfk5kuuo5n3/wish/226869208 There are a variety of treatments available for patients, as many medications do not work for everyone.

Long term medications include the following:
Corticosteroids
Immunomodulators
Leukotriene modifiers
Long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs)
Methylxanthines

Instant medications for fast relief include the following:
Bronchodilators
Short-acting Beta-agonists
Oral Steroids

]]> 2018-02-01 01:37:52 UTC https://padlet.com/6454532/5qfk5kuuo5n3/wish/226869208 The Need for Continued Research 6454532 https://padlet.com/6454532/5qfk5kuuo5n3/wish/226870679 Asthma treatments are not permanent for all patients. Studies have shown that prolonged asthma control can deteriorate once a patient is removed from medication.

Asthma treatments are also not personal to every patient, but with further research and the help of animal test subjects there is a possibility of personalized medication.]]> 2018-02-01 01:47:44 UTC https://padlet.com/6454532/5qfk5kuuo5n3/wish/226870679 Works Cited 6454532 https://padlet.com/6454532/5qfk5kuuo5n3/wish/226873125 1. Nelson, J. (2013, August 21), 6 Types of asthma and how they're treated, Retrieved from,

https://www.mnn.com/health/allergies/stories/6-types-of-asthma-and-how-theyre-treated

2. Buelo A. (2017, June 26). Asthma and animal research: a public health perspective. Retrieved from https://speakingofresearch.com/2017/06/26/asthma-and-animal-research-a-public-health-perspective/
3. Asthma. (2007, January). Retrieved from http://www.animalresearch.info/en/medical-advances/diseases-research/asthma/
4. Asthma. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/asthma
5. Why do animal research? (2014). Retrieved from http://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/why/human-health/asthma-inhalers/
6. Asthma Statistics (n.d), Retrieved from http://www.aaaai.org/about-aaaai/newsroom/asthma-statistics
7. Long-term control medications used to treat asthma, (2007), Retrieved from,

http://getasthmahelp.org/ltc-medications.aspx

]]> 2018-02-01 02:02:52 UTC https://padlet.com/6454532/5qfk5kuuo5n3/wish/226873125 Personal Connection 6454532 https://padlet.com/6454532/5qfk5kuuo5n3/wish/227058288 I was 15 years old when I began to wheeze and cough during cross country practice. This was surprising because I never had any health problems connected to physical exercise. I was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma, and I was given an inhaler to help me breath while exercising.

Asthma was not a new concept in my family as my older brother was allergic to cats, and his allergy would trigger his asthma. He also had exercise induced asthma as a child, but has since grown out of it.]]> 2018-02-01 14:38:25 UTC https://padlet.com/6454532/5qfk5kuuo5n3/wish/227058288