Master Persistent Moderate Asthma with Picmonic for Medicine

Asthma is a chronic airway disease involving bronchial inflammation and hyperresponsiveness that leads to airway obstruction and the symptoms of difficulty breathing, cough and wheezing. Common triggers include cigarette smoke, dust, exercise, and exposure to cold air. Patients with moderate persistent asthma have symptoms requiring a rescue inhaler daily, with nocturnal awakenings at least once a week but not nightly. Pulmonary function tests show a decrease to 60-80% of predicted normal. Pharmacologic management in step 3 of the asthma management protocol calls for addition of a long-acting beta agonist to the step 2 medications, or increase to medium-dose inhaled glucocorticoids.