Question

The hallmark of asthma is

• A. Irreversible airflow obstruction
• B. Chronic airway inflammation with reversible bronchoconstriction
• C. Primary destruction of alveolar walls
• D. Pulmonary vascular remodelling

Hint:

Asthma is a long-term breathing disorder. The key to answering this is knowing what makes asthma different from other lung diseases like COPD or emphysema.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Concept:
Asthma is a long-term breathing disorder. The key to answering this is knowing what makes asthma different from other lung diseases like COPD or emphysema. The defining feature (the hallmark) is what the question is asking for.

Step 1: In asthma, the airways are chronically inflamed. This ongoing inflammation makes the airways very sensitive and twitchy, so they narrow easily when exposed to triggers such as allergens, cold air or exercise. This narrowing is called bronchoconstriction.

Step 2: The very important point about asthma is that this airway narrowing is reversible. It can ease on its own or with bronchodilator medicines like salbutamol. So asthma = chronic airway inflammation + reversible bronchoconstriction.

Step 3: The other choices describe different conditions. Irreversible airflow obstruction points to COPD, destruction of alveolar walls describes emphysema, and pulmonary vascular remodelling relates to pulmonary hypertension — none of these is the hallmark of asthma.

Answer: Option (2) — Chronic airway inflammation with reversible bronchoconstriction.