Breathe Easy: Ace the NAECB Asthma Educator Test 2025 – Be the Breath of Fresh Air!

In cases of severe and poorly controlled asthma over extended periods, the respiratory system undergoes permanent airway remodeling. This process refers to structural changes in the airways that can occur as a result of ongoing inflammation and damage. The airway walls can thicken, leading to increased smooth muscle mass, basement membrane thickening, and mucus gland hyperplasia. These changes can ultimately reduce lung function and responsiveness to bronchodilators, making it harder to control asthma symptoms and exacerbating the condition.

While reversible airway dilation occurs typically during acute asthma events following the use of bronchodilators, it is not a long-term change associated with poorly controlled asthma. Pneumonia can be a complication of asthma but is not a direct change in the structure of the respiratory system. Increased lung capacity is generally not associated with asthma, as the airway obstruction commonly seen in asthma leads to decreased lung function, and thus, diminished capacity.