Final answer:
Expiratory wheezes are a symptom of lower airway obstruction often seen in asthma, where inflammation and other factors narrow the airways, making breathing difficult. The presence and extent of airway obstruction can be assessed using the FEV1/FVC ratio, with a lower ratio indicating obstructive lung disease. Asthma management includes avoiding triggers, medication, and monitoring lung function.
Step-by-step explanation:
Expiratory wheezes are indicative of obstruction in the lower airway. Conditions such as asthma result in the inflammation and narrowing of the airways, leading to difficulty breathing and expelling air from the lungs. During an asthma attack, the airways become narrowed and may be clogged with mucus, complicating breathing further. The obstruction in asthma can be due to a combination of factors including inflammation from increased mucus secretion, fluid accumulation (edema), muscle spasms, or damage to the epithelial cells of the airways.
Diagnosis of obstructive lung disease like asthma often includes measuring the ratio of Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) to Forced Vital Capacity (FVC). A lower FEV1/FVC ratio (less than 69 percent) is associated with obstructive diseases due to the airway obstruction slowing down exhalation and reducing FVC. By contrast, restrictive lung diseases typically present with a normal or high FEV1/FVC ratio since the airways are not obstructed.
Management of asthma and the prevention of exacerbations involve avoiding triggers, using medications such as inhalers to control inflammation, and monitoring lung function with tools like a nebulizer to deliver medication directly to the lungs or measuring airflow to detect obstructive patterns.